In a thrilling Euro 2024 opener, Germany showcased their prowess by defeating a ten-man Scotland side with a commanding 5-1 scoreline. The match, held on Friday, marked the largest margin of victory in the tournament's history right from the start.
Germany, aiming for their fourth European title and their first major trophy in a decade, got off to a flying start. Florian Wirtz opened the scoring in the 10th minute, becoming the youngest German scorer in a European Championship at just 21 years old. Just nine minutes later, Kai Havertz converted a penalty, setting the stage for Jamal Musiala to double the lead.
Despite Scotland's challenges, including defender Ryan Porteous being sent off just before halftime, they managed to pull one back in the 87th minute through an own goal by Antonio Rudiger. However, Germany sealed the deal with goals from Niclas Fullkrug and Emre Can in the second half, leaving Scotland with little chance to recover.
Germany's aggressive strategy paid off as they dominated possession and capitalized on Scotland's defensive vulnerabilities. Captain Ilkay Guendogan praised the team's intensity and strategic play, emphasizing the outstanding first half performance.
As Germany moves forward in the tournament, they will face Hungary on Wednesday and Switzerland in their final Group A match. Meanwhile, Scotland, under Coach Steve Clarke, will need to regroup quickly to advance past the group stage for the first time in a major tournament.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
