Shocking Scotland hammered by Germany as Munich mauling sees Euro 2024 party fall flat – 5 talking points

Scotland suffered a 5-1 shocker as they were outclassed by mighty Germany in Munich as the hosts enjoyed a Euro 2024 opening party and the travelling Tartan Army suffered a hangover before the beer had even worn off.

First half strikes from Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz from the penalty spot, after Ryan Porteous was sent off, had the hosts cruising with Steve Clarke facing humiliation at half time. Substitute Niclas Fullkrug netted a fourth and was denied a second by the offside flag to spare further embarrassment before Antonio Rudiger's last minute own goal gave the Tartan Army a little something to cheer but there was still time for Emre Can to add another.

With the odds heavily stacked against them and a partisan home crowd – albeit the huge travelling Tartan Army almost drowned out the Germans in the build up – the last thing Scotland wanted to do was concede early. But that nightmare scenario unfolded after just 10 minutes.

Toni Kroos sprayed a ball out to Joshua Kimmich. The Bayern Munich man picked out Wirtz who was in far too much space and the Bayer Leverkusen man met it first time to send the ball low beyond Angus Gunn who couldn’t get a strong enough hand on it as the ball went in off the inside of the post.

It was a nightmare start and it went from bad to worse as Scotland couldn’t even see out the next 10 minutes without conceding again. Germany skipper Ilkay Gundogan threaded a lovely defence-splitting pass for Kai Havertz and the Arsenal man picked out Musiala who lashed home a second.

Scotland desperately needed a bit of luck and they got it midway through the first half when referee Clement Turpin pointed to the spot after Musiala was caught by Ryan Christie and Kieran Tierney but VAR ruled that the initial contact by Christie was just outside the box and the decision was overturned.

But there was no such luck with VAR’s next intervention as Scotland were hit with a double whammy. Gunn made a point blank save from Gundogan’s header but as the Barcelona man went for the rebound Porteous lunged in and caught the captain on the shin with his studs. Turpin was called to the monitor and needed one quick look before pointing to the spot and flashing a red card at the former Hibs man. Havertz stepped up to convert and leave Scotland with a mountain to climb.

Fullkrug lashed home a brilliant fourth for the hosts and with just over 20 minutes left on the clock it was the stuff of nightmares for the Scotland players with the Borussia Dortmund man having another ruled out for offside before substitute Scott McKenna got his head to Andy Robertson's free-kick and Rudiger sent it beyond Manuel Neuer for a consolation before Can, a late call-up to the Germany squad, scored another. Here's five talking points from an Allianz Arena annihilation...

Wurst possible start

All the hype and the build-up, the hundreds of thousands of fans who descended on Munich and then THAT. The Tartan Army had waited so long for this moment to travel abroad for a major tournament. The Covid-hit last Euros meant the fans couldn’t attend in big numbers and even then two games were at Hampden and one at Wembley. The Scots have partied all week but their hangovers will be compounded on Saturday morning but the sobering realisation that the chance watching this team make history as the first every to reach the knockout stage of a major international tournament is going to need a drastic improvement.

Hype can start around brilliant Germany

Yes, Scotland were dreadful and made life easy for them but Julian Nagelsmann’s men sent out a statement to those who have been saying this Germany side aren’t as great as some of the sides of the past. They were good. Very good.

They had lost their last three opening games at major tournaments - to Mexico, France and Japan - and crashed out of the 2022 World Cup at the group stage. A year ago they were in disarray and even some of their fans were lacking in optimism but they might just be viewed as more serious title contenders now, even if expectations might be tempered by the lack of a challenge from Scotland.

Negative Normans need reason to believe

Clarke said he simply dismissed those he described as Negative Normans when he spoke before Scotland’s final warm-up game against Finland at Hampden Park seven days earlier. But the pessimism from many has come from what they have seen - not just recently but in the games since Scotland stormed to qualification. It’s now one win in their last TEN games and that solitary victory was a friendly win over Gibraltar in Faro. Their run is the worst of ANY nation at Euro 2024. THAT is why there has been a bit of negativity and Scotland need to get back to the form they showed in the first half of the qualifying campaign. Quickly.

Ropey Ralston

Steve Clarke has been hit by huge injury issues and right back was one of the worst affected areas with both Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson being forced to withdraw from the squad. It left Clarke with very limited options. Jack Hendry, Ryan Jack and James Forrest were all options but it was Anthony Ralston who got the nod. It was a tough night for the Celtic man who had a torrid night with Florian Wirtz causing him all sorts of problems. A harsh lesson learned against one of the world’s emerging talents.

Swiss miss not an option

Some might have viewed this as a free hit with anything from the opening fixture against the hosts a bonus. But the manner of the performance has cranked up the pressure ahead of a game that was arguably always going to the most important against Switzerland on Wednesday. That’s because Hungary qualified for the tournament unbeaten and are the form team of the section and will be tough in the final game. Scotland need to step up against the Swiss, the last team Scotland beat in a major tournament at Euro 96, and all eyes will now be on Cologne.