Germany got their Euro 2024 campaign off to a flying start, putting five past Scotland as they ran riot in Munich.
Julian Nagelsmann's side did not waste any time, as Florian Wirtz became Die Mannschaft's youngest-ever goalscorer at the European Championships following a first-time shot from the edge of the box.
Soon DFB found themselves two up, and Jamal Musiala doubled the lead inside 20 minutes following a fantastic line-breaking pass from Ilkay Gundogan in the build-up.
The final nail in the coffin for the Tartan Army came just before halftime, when Ryan Porteous' late challenge on Gundogan led to a red card for the centre-back and a Kai Havertz penalty, which made it three.
Germany's ruthlessness remained in the second half, substitute Niclas Fullkrug smashed a stunning strike beyond Angus Gunn. Not long after, the Borussia Dortmund striker had a second ruled out for offside.
Scotland grabbed a consolation goal in the closing stages of the game. Andrew Robertson had his free kick turned in by Rudiger for an own goal.
However, the hosts responded immediately. Despite being on the pitch for just a few minutes, Emre Can's low effort outside the box found the far corner.
Here are the player ratings from the opening game of Euro 2024.
Germany
Manuel Neuer - 6
The Bayern Munich goalkeeper had nothing to do of note, a testament to the wonderful defensive display from Germany's back four. He had more touches with his feet than he did with his hands.
Maximilian Mittelstadt - 7
To begin with, it seemed Mittelstadt was the deeper of the two German fullbacks owing to Anthony Ralston and Ryan Porteous.
However, the sending-off of Porteous freed up the Stuttgart player to be more offensive.
The first half saw him come narrowly close to forcing Scotland into an error that was initially awarded a penalty before being deemed a freekick on review.
However, in the second half, he seemed to be higher, delivering mean crosses into the box and players lurking at the back post, carrying a goal threat.
Antonio Rudiger - 7
Almost playing as a centre midfielder at times, Rudiger relished having the ball at his feet and being in possession. It looked as though the Real Madrid centre-back loved the responsibility of building up play and restarting attacks.
Carrying the ball up the pitch and making up ground for Die Mannschaft, he even forced Gunn into a save following a speculative effort from range.
Whenever he was asked defensive questions, the Champions League winner responded, winning balls in the air and frustrating an isolated Che Adams.
It is a shame that he headed one past his own goalkeeper, but it should not take away from a solid performance.
Jonathan Tah - 6
Even though Tah looked extremely comfortable in possession, and pulled off an audacious diagonal pass to find Kimmich, he did make some clumsy challenges and got booked after the hour mark.
A couple of late tackles have brought his reliability into question. Tah will need to improve to keep his place alongside Rudiger.
Joshua Kimmich - 7
Responsible for creating the opening goal, Kimmich fulfilled Nagelsmann's demands to be high up the pitch expertly. The touch to bring down Kroos' diagonal was crisp, and he topped it off with an assist.
Along with Mittelstadt, the Bayern Munich right-back provided Germany with width in attack. Defensively, he also made it difficult for Robertson and Tierney to get any success down the left, as they have in the build-up to the finals.
He also combined well with Musiala down the right and made several lovely runs on the inside and outside channels.
The 29-year-old also delivered some delicious crosses.
Robert Andrich - 6
Mopping up in the middle and keeping it tight, Andrich disrupted any attempt from Scotland to counter-attack in the first half. The Bayern Leverkusen midfielder was an imposing and physical presence who bullied the Scots this evening.
Toni Kroos - 8
A quintessential Toni Kroos performance, he dictated the pace of the game and, despite being man-marked by Ryan Christie, the soon-to-retire midfielder shrugged him off.
He executed a wonderful diagonal pass to pick out Kimmich in space on the opposite side of the pitch, which would lead to the first goal of the evening.
The Real Madrid midfielder was constantly looking to receive the ball off the centre-backs and get Germany up the pitch, either carrying the ball himself or through intricate passing.
Florian Wirtz - 9
He came agonisingly close to scoring within the first couple of minutes after his chipped effort was saved by Gunn.
In saying that, a few moments later, the Bayern Leverkusen midfielder announced himself to the tournament.
The awareness to identify the space and exploit it was brilliant. Lovely first-time finish to drive the ball low and hard at Gunn in the Scotland goal; it was the pace of the effort that prevented the goalkeeper from pushing it round the post.
He presented great dribbling pace and balance to deceive the Scottish defence.
The 20-year-old's movement was far too much; he was everywhere in the attacking third and had a couple of other snap shots at goal.
Ilkay Gundogan - 9
The unsung hero of the evening, he was way too good on and off the ball for Scotland to handle.
On the half-turn, he spotted the run of Havertz in behind and provided an inch-perfect defence-splitting pass for the striker to hold up and lay it off to Musiala for the second goal.
Playing in the pockets, the Barcelona midfielder was creating space for the likes of Musiala and Wirtz to exploit while carrying a goal threat himself, coming extremely close to scoring several times.
Jamal Musiala - 10
The best player on the pitch, it was an absolutely superb performance from the young man.
He smashed the ball into the roof of the net to register a goal and nearly won a penalty soon after.
Similar to Gundogan, his movement was too intelligent for the Tartan Army. Yet, it was his scintillating footwork that caught the eye in Munich.
His ability to wriggle in and out of the Scottish players as if they were not there was a joy to watch.
He received a standing ovation for his efforts when he was subbed off.
Kai Havertz - 9
A goal and an assist for the Arsenal striker, he had his critics coming into the tournament, but they have been silenced now. He combined well with the three No. 10's and his movement in behind had the Scottish defence not knowing what way to turn.
The penalty was well taken, stuttering as he completely deceived Gunn to convert.
Also, the run was well-timed to latch on to the Gundogan line-breaking pass, and he had the composure to hold the ball up as well as wait for the late run of Musiala.
Substitutes
Pascal Gross - 5
He replaced Andrich at the break and did not look out of place.
Niclas Fullkrug - 9
He showed superb technique for the fourth goal, as he half-volleyed the ball into the top-right corner beyond the outstretched arm of Gunn.
He was unlucky to get his second chalked off for offside.
Leroy Sane - 4
Epitomised why Naglesmann went to the 4-2-3-1 and chose a formation that did not utilise out-and-out wingers. Sane used his sheering pace to drive at the Scottish defence down the flanks, but it was utterly pointless.
He wasted a good opportunity almost immediately after coming onto the field.
Thomas Muller - 6
He was never going to be a like-for-like replacement for Musiala, and put himself about a bit.
Emre Can - 7
Despite his brief cameo, it was enough time for him to get on the scoresheet with a brilliant curling effort.
Scotland
Angus Gunn - 6
Despite conceding a disappointing opener, which he could have perhaps pushed around the post, Gunn bounced back and made two or three good reaction saves to deny Germany.
He could not do anything about the other four goals and can hold his head high.
Andrew Robertson - 6
The Scottish captain cut a frustrated figure throughout the match and was one of the few actively looking to get the Tartan Army up the pitch, but it came to no avail.
He struggled to link up with Tierney and could not find the opening in behind.
The twinkling feet of Musiala exposed the 30-year-old several times in the match.
The Liverpool fullback was, however, responsible for Scotland's only goal of the match, whipping in a dangerous free kick from out wide that was turned in by Rudiger in an attempt to clear.
Kieran Tierney - 6
The Germans did not allow the duo on the left side [Tierney and Robertson] to carry the attacking threat that Steve Clarke tasked them with doing.
Tierney struggled to defend Musiala, and the increased emphasis on the defensive side of the game exposed the Real Sociedad fullback's vulnerabilities and the fact that he is out of position for his country.
Jack Hendry - 4
The centre of the back three, Hendry, began the match confident and assured, but the never-ending German attacks soon induced panic across the backline.
He headed a defence that looked as though it was chasing shadows for the majority of the game.
Ryan Porteous - 1
It was an evening to forget for Porteous; he was terrorised from the first minute, and then a reckless crunching challenge on Gundogan meant he was dismissed for catching the captain's ankles with his studs.
The red card catalysed the downfall of the Tartan Army.
Anthony Ralston - 5
Tenacious and impassioned, Ralston's commitment could not be brought into question this evening.
Given the absence of Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson, the Celtic fullback can be satisfied overall with his performance.
Perhaps he could have been tighter to Wirtz for the first goal, and he picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Havertz early in the second half.
Callum McGregor - 4
Caught out in the build-up to the second goal following an attempted interception. Although he did make one or two well-timed blocks to prevent further embarrassment.
Scott McTominay - 5
DFB nullified the threat of McTominay tonight, touching tight to the Manchester United midfielder, the Scottish starlet was limited to very few chances to drive out from deep; however, he did it well at times.
He would have preferred to pick up the ball higher up the pitch; instead, he received the ball close to his own goal.
John McGinn - 4
Lacked urgency on the ball tonight, McGinn often held on to it for too long and squandered the opportunity to catch Die Mannschaft on the counter-attack.
Launched a few hopeful balls forward, searching for Adams, but it was totally ineffective.
Ryan Christie - 5
After Porteous was sent off, Christie was deployed as a false nine but struggled to influence the game. He made up a midfield that was anonymous for most of the evening.
Che Adams - 3
The invisible man for his 45-minute cameo, he was isolated up front, and Rudiger and Tah dealt with the Southampton striker relatively easily.
Substitutes
Grant Hanley - 3
He was brought on to stop the flow of goals; however, Scotland conceded a further three goals.
Billy Gilmour - 4
Introduced in the second half, pretty non-existent.
Kenny McLean - 6
A brief shining light, one of the few players for Scotland who desperately tried to play football.
Scott McKenna - 5
Got the pivotal touch before Rudiger's own goal late on.
Late substitute, could not make an impact.
