Germany’s glory quest at Euro 2024 began on the cusp of overwhelming tournament success after a 5-1 victory over Scotland yesterday, the Germans scoring all six goals. Both teams paraded their finest legs. However, the host country showed early winning intentions by scoring two goals in the 10th and 19th minutes of the first half. The Germans added a third a minute into added time in the half. The three goals by Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, and Kai Havertz created a winning momentum going into the second half, where Niclas Fullkrug, Antonio Rudiger (own goal), and Emre Can all scored in the 68th, 87th, and 93rd respectively.
More trouble started for the Scots when they lost a defender. Ryan Porteous of Watford soccer club received a red card in the 44th minute for a dangerous tackle on Ilkay Gundogan, captain of the German team. Kai Havertz, a player at Arsenal soccer club in the English Premier League, converted the resultant penalty kick.
Scotland was on the back foot for most of the second half due to their diminished strength in numbers. Unsurprisingly, Germany had 68% ball possession while Scotland managed 32%. Again, the Scots performed miserably in front of goal, managing just one goal attempt to their opponent’s overwhelming 20. Scotland had a face-saving goal when Antonio Rudiger of Real Madrid headed home past Manuel Neuer in his team’s goal.
The Germans stayed true to their cultural mythology as a team of superb talents, history, and a burning appetite for more soccer glory in Europe and elsewhere. After all, the Germans have won three European cups since the European championship began in 1960, sharing the record for most wins with Spain.
Germany’s next game will be against Hungary on June 19, while Scotland takes on Switzerland in the other group A match of the same day. There are 24 teams in this year’s European soccer championship, and the final game will be at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on July 14.