GERMANY RUN RIOT AGAINST SCOTLAND TO MAKE WINNING START TO EURO 2024
Euro 2024 started in the perfect fashion for the host nation as Germany secured a dominant 5-1 win over a Scotland side who played the entire second half with ten men.
Germany made a lightning start to the game as they quickly dominated possession and put Scotland to the sword. It took just ten minutes to find the opener as Florian Wirtz fired in off the post to score the first goal of the tournament.
There was little let up from the hosts who just under ten minutes later had their second as Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala, who troubled Scotland all night, smashed the ball past a helpless Angus Gunn.
The three-time winners of this competition continued to dominate a hapless Scotland side who’s woeful first half was compounded just before the break as a clumsy two-footed Ryan Porteous challenge resulted in both a penalty and red card. Havertz swiftly dispatched the penalty, giving the hosts a three-nil advantage at half-time.
The second-half was a largely similar affair as Germany continued to dominate keeping Scotland camped on the edge of their 18-yard box. Niclas Fullkrug came on to add a fourth for Germany before a late Rudiger own goal gave the Tartan Army something to celebrate. Borussia Dortmund midfielder Emre Can added a fifth with almost the last kick of the game to put the icing on the cake for Germany as they secured the biggest win in any opening European Championship game.
A statement win which will surely have raised eyebrows in opposition camps. Meanwhile, Scotland know they are still in this tournament but will have to find their first win at a major tournament since 1996 to have any chance of progressing out the group.