It was a night to forget for Scotland as they were on the receiving end of an obliteration from Germany in the Euro 2024 curtain-raiser.
The Scots may not have been expecting a dominant win against Germany, but to lose in the fashion that they did is a massive blow for the Scots.
For all their disappointment, Scotland will not be able to say that they had a lack of support in the game, after an excellent showing from the Tartan Army.
It did not take long for Germany to take the lead, as Florian Wirtz received the ball on the edge of the penalty area; before placing an excellent effort in the bottom corner in the 10th minute.
A powerful strike from Jamal Musiala doubled their lead nine minutes later, after some exquisite build-up play from the hosts.
By halftime the score was 3-0, as Kai Havertz scored from a penalty, awarded after a challenge from Ryan Porteous on Ilkay Gundogan - which saw the defender sent off.
Niclas Füllkrug made it four in the 68th minute with a powerful strike after receiving the ball on the edge of the penalty area.
A late consolation goal for Scotland, an own goal from Antonio Rudiger, proved inconsequential as Emre Can added a fifth for the hosts deep in added time with a curling effort, rounding off a resounding win.
For Scotland, all hope is not lost, as just a single win against Hungary or Switzerland could see them into the round of 16, but this result stands as a big blow to their confidence.
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Story of the game
Julian Nagelsmann named an unsurprisingly strong starting lineup for the Euro 2024 curtain-raiser, with no changes from the side who beat Greece 2-1 in a warm-up game last week.
Steve Clarke made three changes to the side who drew 2-2 with Finland last Friday, which saw Scott McTominay start in midfield, while Che Adams was given the nod up front over Lawrence Shankland.
With the momentum of a home crowd behind them, Germany got off to a bright start in the game, but they were met by a strong, spirited, Scottish defence which did well to shut the hosts out in the early stages.
Scotland soon settled into the game but, as was largely expected, it was Nagelsmann's side who dominated possession, forcing the Scots to defend deep in their own half.
The pressure soon became too much to handle for Scotland as, in just the 10th minute, the hosts opened the scoring with an excellently-worked goal.
The ball was switched across the pitch from Kroos to Kimmich, who then played it into Wirtz on the edge of the box - and the Bayer Leverkusen star dispatched an inch-perfect finish from range into the bottom corner.
Germany continued to dictate things from here, despite a frankly uneventful Scottish counter-attack, and it was not long before things went from bad to worse for Clarke's side.
Just nine minutes after their first, Germany doubled their lead in the 19th minute thanks to another beautifully-worked goal, which culminated in a thunderous strike from Musiala.
Good build-up play saw Havertz with the ball in the box but unable to get a shot off. The Arsenal man laid it off to Musiala who rocketed an effort past Gunn to send the hosts 2-0 up.
Germany were awarded a penalty in the 25th minute after a foul from Ryan Christie on Jamal Musiala. But Scotland were given a reprieve as it was adjourned that the foul was just outside the penalty area, and the penalty was overturned by VAR.
It would soon transpire, however, that this reprieve was only temporary, as Clarke's side were reduced to 10 men after a studs-up challenge from Porteous on Gundogan, which saw the hosts awarded a penalty once more.
This time the decision was made by VAR and stood this time around, and Havertz made no mistake from the spot, as he sent Gunn the wrong way and put his side 3-0 up just before the break.
Second half
Clarke made on halftime change, as centre-back Grant Hanley was brought on for Adams, in an attempt to shore up the depleted Scottish back-line.
Barring a few fleeting moments at the start of the second half where Scotland were able to push forward, the game resembled much of what we saw in the first 45 minutes.
Playing with 10 men, expectations on Clarke's side in the second half were low to say the least, and as Germany continued to dominate possession and pelt chances at the Scotland goal, hopes of a miraculous Scottish comeback faded.
In the 51st minute, Gunn was forced to tip a long-range effort from Antonio Rudiger behind for a corner, which ultimately came to nothing for the hosts.
A short while later, in the 68th minute, Germany found another through yet another nicely-worked goal, this time scored by Füllkrug.
Germany moved the ball into the box and, as Hanley failed to intercept, Füllkrug ran onto it, rifling a magnificent strike into the back of the net, adding to the hosts' lead.
Germany continued to dominate and thought they had found a fifth in the 76th minute, but Füllkrug was deemed to be offside, which saw the goal quickly chalked off.
Late in the game, Scotland were gifted a consolation goal as Rudiger headed into his own net as Germany failed to properly deal with a free-kick from the Scots.
This consolation would only last so long, however, as Can added a fifth with a curling effort in added time, having only been called up to the squad a few days ago.
Can's late strike ensured a 5-1 win for Germany, a perfect start to their home tournament as Scotland fans were silenced at the death.
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Player of the match - Jamal Musiala
Musiala has long been regarded as one of the world's brightest young talents and, against Scotland, he left no questions as to why that is.
The 21-year-old finished the game with a 100 per cent pass completion, as well as scoring with a great strike to add to his side's win.
The Bayern Munich star was already tipped to be a crucial part of Germany's squad this summer, but now it is undoubtedly clear that he will play an enormous role in any potential success that Nagelsmann's side may enjoy at Euro 2024.




