Germany finished 2023 losing to the likes of Colombia, Japan, Turkey, and Austria. In the middle of that run, they beat France and the United States, while drawing with Mexico. The mostly downward yo-yo lead to changes for their task of hosting the 2024 Euro Cup.
Enter new head coach Julian Nagelsmann, only 36 years of age. The hope was to translate his success at club level into a rebirth of the German National team. Inclusion of new, youthful players such as 21 year old Florian Wirtz and 24 year old Kai Havertz, as well as bringing back some veterans like 34 year old Thomas Muller, and the seemingly ageless 34 year old Toni Kroos, himself a man on his way to retirement after a successful campaign to win the La Liga title and the Champions League with Real Madrid, in what would be a fairy tale ending to a player who clearly has some years left in his legs with a Euro title on German land, Die Mannschaft were ready to prove to the World that England and France weren't the run-away favorites after all.
Friendly victories in 2024 over France, Netherlands, and Greece saw Germany building momentum into the start of this tournament. Their one blemish a scoreless draw against the youngest team to qualify for the Euros, but a talented bunch nonetheless in Ukraine. Germany stepped onto the field in Munich trying to avoid being the first host to not win their opening match since Poland's 1:1 draw in 2012.
If you look at the photo above and wonder what is happening, you know how Scotland started to feel early in this match-up. The aforementioned Florian Wirtz made his debut in a major competition. He opened up the scoring of Euro 2024 from a centered pass just outside the box from right back Joshua Kimmich. The resulting shot would go low and to the keeper's left. Angus Gunn would dive and reach the ball with his hand driving it to the post and back in behind. All this just 10 minutes in.
Things would like twice as bad for Scotland in the 19th minute. Attacking midfielder and captain Ilkay Gundogan would drive the ball forward into the box to center forward Kai Havertz who would pass the ball to Jamal Musiala and the hosts were up 2:0.
Even when Angus Gunn did right he was still made to be wrong. A flicking header from Gundogan would be saved only for the ball to rebound in the keeper's box where a mistake would be made. The rebound would fall back to the feet of a waiting Gundogan who would be challenged Scottish center back Ryan Porteus. The two footed challenge would see Ryan's front leg hit the ball and follow through to kick Gundogan in the shin, while the trailing leg would slide on the grass and connect studs up into the same leg of Germany's captain. The resulting red card would also lead to a penalty kick. Though Ilkay would spend some time rolling on the grass in pain, it was Scotland who were about to truly feel hurt.
Kai Havertz would step up and send Angus Gunn the wrong way to give Germany a 3:0 lead in stoppage time of the first half.
The action wouldn't pick up until the 68th minute. Gundogan would drive forward, pick up a pass, and heel flick it back to a running Niclas Fullkrug who would find the back of the net to make it 4:0. All of Germany thought Fullkrug doubled his goal tally in the 76th minute only to find the substitute would become the first victim of the automatic offside technology which ruled the forward too far ahead for the oncoming pass and nullify the goal keeping it 4:0.
At this point, Scotland's only hope to progress out of the first round of a major tournament would rely on two victories in their remaining matches, and enough goals to keep their goal differential competitive. They would find some luck in the 87th minute. Scottish captain Andrew Robertson would deliver a cross from midfield that would be flicked on by Germany's Fullkrug, only to find the head of Scotland's Scott McKenna whose attempt at goal would deflect off of German center back Antonio Rudiger into the German goal. At this point the singing German crowd grew quiet at the one blemish they would see in the night. The Scottish fans tried to make the best of their situation by chanting, "You aren't singing now".
The night would end much as it began. In stoppage time of the second half Germany would play the ball into the corner, lay it off back on the left hand side, drive the ball into the box to be passed back to a waiting Emre Can who would fire low to the keeper's left. For the second time in the night Angus Gunn would put his hand on a ball only to allow a goal.
Four nights ago, Emre Can wasn't even on the team sheet for Germany at Euro 2024. Tonight he was scoring the fifth goal in a European Championship, the most Germany has ever scored in a single game at the the tournament, in the biggest win Germany has had at a Euro.
In terms of favorites, Germany has set the standard. Let's see how the other predicted winners fare in their opening matches. As for Scotland, there are still two chances to make some history on their own as the best four third place teams will make it out of their respective groups. To do so they are going to need to find plenty of goals. Their history says they do not have it in them as they've only scored 6 goals in 10 matches at the Euros all time. The Tartan Army must keep on believing, they are after all the one nation who has the unicorn as their national animal. "Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you", crooned Frank Sinatra. Here's to Scottish hearts staying young.
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