Germany kicked off their Euro 2024 campaign with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Scotland, with Emre Can adding the final flourish with a spectacular 20-yard strike.
Called up as a late replacement just days before the match, Can showcased his quality by scoring Germany’s fifth goal, beating Scottish keeper Angus Gunn. This came after earlier goals from Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, and Niclas Füllkrug.
Scotland managed a consolation goal through an unfortunate own goal by Antonio Rudiger in the 87th minute. The Scots faced an uphill battle, playing the entire second half with ten men after Ryan Porteous received a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Ilkay Gundogan. Havertz capitalized on the resulting penalty just before halftime, making it 3-0.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Scotland showed resilience in the second half, avoiding what could have been a record-equalling defeat in European Championship history. The largest losing margin in the tournament’s history remains five goals, a record that Scotland narrowly avoided extending.
Germany’s dominant performance sets a high bar for their Euro 2024 aspirations, while Scotland will look to regroup and bounce back in their next matches.
WATCH THE GOAL BELOW:
