Germany thrash 10-man Scotland 5-1 in Euro 2024 opener

NEW DELHI: Germany kicked off their Euro 2024 campaign by thrashing 10-man Scotland 5-1 on Friday. The comprehensive victory marked the biggest opening game margin in the tournament's history.
Furthermore, it serves as a strong statement of intent from the Germans, who were considered somewhat lacklustre ahead of the tournament but are pursuing an unprecedented fourth European title and their first major trophy in a decade.
The hosts took control of the match early on, with Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, and Kai Havertz's penalty giving them a commanding 3-0 lead before halftime.
Scotland's task was further complicated when defender Ryan Porteous received a straight red card just before the break for a studs-up challenge on Ilkay Gundogan, which also led to the penalty.
In the second half, Germany continued to dominate proceedings, with Niclas Fuellkrug and Emre Can adding two more goals to extend their lead to 5-0. Scotland managed to get on the scoresheet in the 87th minute through Antonio Ruediger's deflected own goal, but it was merely a consolation in an otherwise one-sided affair.
Germany's performance was a stark contrast to their recent struggles in major tournaments, where they had lost their opening matches at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, as well as the previous European Championship in 2021.

The Germans' dominance was evident in their possession statistics and the ease with which they carved open the Scottish defence. Their clinical finishing and relentless attacking play left Scotland with no respite, as the visitors failed to register a single shot on or off target throughout the match.
For Scotland, who were making their second consecutive appearance at the European Championship under coach Steve Clarke, the defeat was a harsh reality check. They now face an uphill battle to progress from the group stage for the first time in a major tournament, with their next match against Switzerland on Wednesday taking on added significance.
Germany, on the other hand, will look to build on this impressive start when they face Hungary in their second Group A encounter on Wednesday. Their performance against Scotland has undoubtedly sent a strong message to their rivals, as they aim to reclaim their status as one of the powerhouses of European football.