UEFA Euro 2024: Key takeaways as Germany thrash Scotland 5-1 to kickstart their campaign in dominant fashion

In an exciting start to the UEFA Euro 2024, Germany dismantled Scotland in front of their home supporters in the opening match of Group A, giving everyone a glimpse of what they are capable of.

Germany start their campaign with a commanding win over Scotland. (Photo: Getty)

New Delhi: In an action-packed opening encounter of the UEFA Euro 2024, hosts Germany overcame a down-and-out Scotland, by five goals to one. The home crowd was out in numbers to support their nation and there was a sense of positivity in the atmosphere, as the German side had something to cheer about, something that was last seen at UEFA Euro 2016. 

Die Mannschaft started the game on the front foot and it wasn’t long before they tested the Scottish keeper and set the tone for the rest of the game. Julien Nagelsmann’s men were outclassing the opposition and the deadly duo of Wirtz and Musiala were tearing the opposition apart just as we had predicted. 

The hosts of UEFA Euro 2024 were put in front thanks to a crisp strike from wonderkid, Florian Wirtz, in the 10th minute before Jamal Musiala added another nine minutes later to put the game away from the Scots. Things went from bad to worse for Scotland just before halftime as Ryan Porteous was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Ilkay Gundogan in the box and the resulting penalty was put away by Kai Havertz to put the hosts firmly in control.

Germany didn’t take their foot off the pedal even after being 3-0 up as they never let the Scots settle and were toying with the defenders deep into the second half. Shortly after coming on, Niklas Fullkrug found himself amongst the scorers as his powerful strike extended the Germans’ lead to 4-0. Scotland had something to cheer about towards the end as Antonio Rudiger headed past his keeper but their joy didn’t last long as Emre Can added another with the final kick of the game to win the game 5-1.

1) Germany win their opening game as hosts for the first time in UEFA Euro history

Germany put Scotland to the sword in Munich. (Photo: Getty)

Germany kicked off their UEFA Euro 2024 campaign with a win against Scotland in their opening game of the tournament. This marks the first time that Germany won their opening game as the hosts of the tournament. Germany hosted the UEFA Euro once in 1988, when West Germany were the host for the tournament and they drew their first game at home to Italy. 

Deutschland was also one of the 11 host nations for UEFA Euro 2020, and faced France in the opening game, ending in a 1-0 loss for Die Mannschaft. However, today they changed that unwanted history as the Germans put the Scots to the sword and didn’t give them a chance to reply. Germany won their first game of the tournament in dominant fashion and looked like a major threat to the other teams.

2) Julien Nagelsmann becomes the youngest manager in UEFA Euro history

Nagelsmann is now the youngest coach at UEFA Euro championships. (Photo: Getty)

With the first game of the tournament now in the history books, Julien Nagelsmann is now officially the youngest manager in the history of the UEFA European Championships.  Nagelsmann achieved the feat at just years and 327 days as he beat Srečko Katanec’s record by six days.

After becoming the youngest manager in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim, Nagelsmann has now achieved the feat at the International level and did so in brilliant fashion as his team dismantled the Scots by 5-1. The young coach is living up to his reputation with the national team and could go on to achieve great things with Die Mannschaft, potentially starting with the UEFA Euro 2024 success on their home soil.

3) Florian Wirtz becomes the youngest player to ever score the opening goal at a UEFA European championships

Wirtz’s goal opened the floodgates for Germany’s onslaught (Photo: Getty)

Germany have a literal gem on their hands in Florian Wirtz. He was on full display against the Scots as the attacking midfielder was the first man to threaten the Scottish goal in the first minute itself. He went a step further just ten minutes later as he opened the scoring for the hosts with a sublime finish that Angus Gunn couldn’t keep out even after getting a hand to it.

Florian Wirtz scored his second-ever goal for the national team as his shot from outside the box sent the fans roaring. With that strike, Wirtz etched his name in the history books as he became the youngest player to ever score the opening goal at a UEFA European championships.

4) Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz run the show for Die Mannschaft

Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz wreaked havoc for the Germans on the flanks. (Photo: Getty)

Musiala and Wirtz’s partnership was the talk of the town heading into the game and their display in the first game for Germany showed us exactly why that was the case. The young guns were running the show in the final third for Die Mannschaft.

Wirtz and Musiala started the game on the left and right flank respectively but as the game wore on, their roles became more fluid with both players alternating on either flank, while also popping up in the middle to cause problems for the Scots.

Their partnership was a treat to watch for the fans as their electric display always meant that Germany were about to score. Both of them found themselves on the scoresheet with Wirtz opening the scoring and Musiala adding the second minutes later and that set the tone for the rest of the game.