Scotland make nightmare start to Euro 2024 in humiliating defeat to Germany (2024)

Germany 5-1 Scotland (Wirtz 10’, Musiala 19’, Havertz 45+1’ pen, Fullkrug 68’, Can 90+3’ | Rudiger OG 87′)

ALLIANZ ARENA — After the 48-hour party came the crashing comedown for a Scotland side handed a sobering reminder of their shortcomings on Europe’s biggest stage.

Munich has hummed to the sound of bagpipes, bursting bierkellers and tongue-in-cheek Scottish bravado. But it did not take long after the curtains were pulled on Euro 2024 for a familiar refrain to start up: that recurring ballad of Tartan Army turmoil at an international tournament.

It hurt more here because of an aching chasm in class that Scotland had hoped was a thing of the past. Steve Clarke has taken his nation on some journey since the low ebb of humiliation in Kazahkstan, moulding a team greater than the sum of its parts that mauled Spain in an impressive qualification campaign.

But it took a heavyweight Germany just ten minutes to unpick them before inflicting a brutal beating. You fear what comes next for them in Group A because this was the sort of defeat that sows seeds of doubt in even the most confident squad.

Andy Robertson had talked of attaining legendary status by escaping the group stages for the first time but the sum total of his contribution was thumping the chest of Kieran Tierney when he outmuscled Jamal Musiala after three minutes.

That prompted a lusty roar from the visiting hordes but until a late own goal from Antonio Rüdiger – cheered with as much gusto as any of Germany’s strikes – that was about as good as it got.

Granted, Germany were absolutely brilliant, the swagger of the unplayable Musiala and effervescence of Florian Wirtz putting the rest of the tournament on notice. But Clarke’s side were utterly dismal, both in intention and application. Twenty-six years on from going down swinging against Brazil in the opening game of France ‘98, they did not lay a glove on Germany.

Indeed Scotland looked stuck in the nineties here, an analogue side without a player who could get close to the imperious Toni Kroos, the hosts’ midfield metronome. Half an hour into a contest he was doing more than anyone to shape, he had played 50 passes with a 100% accuracy rate. And most were struck with the intention of putting Scotland firmly on the back foot.

That was a big problem for Clarke, who had left Billy Gilmour on the bench to try and assemble a wall of blue to resist Germany’s advances. Kroos switched play effortlessly to Joshua Kimmich to start the move that yieled the first of three magnificent goals from open play.

His pass into the gaping hole between Scotland’s back three and midfield was exploited by Wirtz, whose drive crept past Angus Gunn.

Scotland barely had time to draw breath before Musiala’s superb finish made it two. This could be the Bayern Munich maestro’s tournament.

Clarke’s men could not get close to him or any of his team-mates. They survived a scare after a VAR intervention before Ryan Porteous saw red for a horrendous challenge on Ilkay Gundogan. Kai Havertz stuttered then swept past the hapless Gunn. Niclas Füllkrug stepped off the bench to power a fourth.

Any joy for the Scots at the fortunate own goal was quickly quelled by Emre Can’s late effort.

If there is any crumb of comfort, it is that their magnificent support has set the tone for what should be a brilliant summer of football.

After the Covid-enforced sterility of the delayed Euro 2020 and Qatar’s confected festival of sportswashing it has felt like an eternity since a full-blooded summer tournament but it certainly arrived in Munich, decked in kilts and an impressive array of retro kits.

This is a proper football country and this city knows the formula of tournament chemistry: just add beer.

The Tartan Army appreciated it. They travelled in jaw-dropping numbers, commandeering the fanzone in the most good natured of invasions. Tolerating the queues for the privilege of parting with €13 for a jug of Bitburger, it must have felt like anything was possible. It did not take long for reality to bite.