The curtain has risen on Euro 2024. Great anticipation for the Germany in the debut match against Scotland. And the hosts fully respected the predictions. She is German the first victory of these European Championships 5-1, thanks to goals from Wirtz, Musiala, Havertz (pen), Füllkrug, Can. Scotland, never dangerous, started their journey in the group stage uphill. In the final there was still room for Rüdiger’s unfortunate own goal, who deflected McKenna’s harmless header behind Neuer. Definitely a super debut for Germany, which demonstrated great superiority.
The demonstration began with a short opening ceremony who also paid homage to the German football icon Franz Beckenbauer. The dancers, wearing the colors of the 24 participating teams, performed the official song of the tournament, performed by singer Leony, in the presence of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. In the end thereBeckenbauer’s widow, Heidi, brought the trophy that will be given to the winning team of the tournament, and then threw a kiss to the sky. Beckenbauer, who died in January at age 78, won the 1972 European Championships and the 1974 World Cup as a player, the 1990 World Cup as a coach. Heidi Beckenbauer was accompanied by Jürgen Klinsmann and Bernard Dietzthe captains of the other German teams that won the European Championships in 1996 and 1980 respectively.
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Euro24 – Musiala goal for Germany
First half. And it is the Germans who break the deadlock with Wirtz’s goal in the 10th minute. Kimmich is quick to see and serve Wirtz who, in a central position from the edge of the area, first strikes Gunn, with the ball touching the post and then going into the bag. Germany in total control of the game, immediately pressing with intensity and quality. And the second goal arrives in the 19th minute with Musiala. Havertz, from inside the area, sees and serves Musiala backwards, who stops and finishes strongly under the crossbar, where Gunn cannot reach. Germany ahead 2-0. In the 25th minute Musiala was brought down, we went to the VAR to check if the foul was in the area or just outside. No penalty, the foul is just outside the area, free kick from 16 meters in favor of Germany. Scotland’s dribbling is too weak, and even in the last minutes they are trying to do something different than in the first half hour. But the penalty kick arrives in the 44th minute. Evening to forget for the Scottish team: Gundogan is brought down by Porteous with a straight leg foul. For the Scottish footballer there is also a red card: Scotland with ten men. Havertz made no mistakes from the spot: Germany-Scotland 3-0 for a one-sided first half. Absolute domination by the Germans, with a clearly superior game. Scotland, never dangerous, had no shots on target.
Euro24 – Havertz goal for Germany
Second half. One substitution for each side: Gross for the booked Andrich among the hosts, Hanley for the disabled Adams among the Scots. The start of the half was less intense for the Germans given the hat-trick already in their pocket. Scots not received. in the 67th minute another substitution for Scotland: McGinn comes out, McLean comes on, Gregor comes out, Gilmour comes on. In the 63rd minute there was also a substitution for the hosts: Füllkrug and Sané for Wirtz and Havertz. And it is the new arrival who finds the way to the goal in the 68th minute. Germany takes the lead with Füllkrug who puts the ball into the top corner after a short clearance from the Scottish defence. Germans always in absolute control of the game. Füllkrug even found the top five after a few minutes, but the goal was disallowed for offside. In the 87th minute, to upset the irrepressible joy of the German team, Rüdiger’s own goal arrives. Free kick taken by Robertson, at the far post McKenna stands out and actually doesn’t even deviate towards goal, and Rüdiger, still heading, extends the ball behind Neuer, who is unable to avoid the goal. But there is still room for a German goal thanks to Can in the 87th minute. Sanè in the area for Thomas Muller, who passes Emre Can backwards, whose right-footed shot ends up in the bottom corner. And it’s five: Germany-Scotland 5-1.
afp Euro24 – Füllkrug goal for Germany
The wait is over. The 17th edition of the European Championships has begun, created in 1960 on the initiative of the then UEFA secretary Henry Delaunay and to whom the trophy awarded to the winners is named, which is being played again in Germany after 36 years, the first time since German reunification. As per tradition, the opening match it was up to the host team: the Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany took on Steve Clarke’s Scotland tonightincluded in Group A together with Switzerland and Hungary.
Germans they dream of returning to the top step of the European podium for the fourth time, after the triumphs obtained in 1972, 1980 and 1996, also trying to make up for the disappointment of 2006, when they failed to win the World Cup in front of their fans. And they want to try under the guidance of Julian Nagelsmann, the young Bavarian coach who achieved two prestigious victories in the March friendlies against France and Holland. On the eve of the debut in the home European Championship, the coach of Germany he declared himself optimistic: “I think we’re ready. We used the days well to train well. The guys look in good shape. We’re a little nervous, but this is an important match. We must have a certain nervousness”.
But the Scots were also confident, despite having immediately faced the hosts. Clarke’s men, on their way to qualifying, managed to finish ahead of Norway and also beat leaders Spain. These are the words of Scotland coach Steve Clarke at the press conferenceon the eve of the match: “Already at the time of the draw I thought it would be a difficult match, and I continue to think so. All our players are perfectly fit. We have prepared well, we are ready and we hope to be able to prove it tomorrow evening”.
Handle A photo dated 07 July 1974 of Franz Beckenbauer presenting the 1974 World Cup after Germany defeated the Netherlands 2-1 in the world championship finals at the Munich Olympic Stadium
The six groups
Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland
Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania
Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England
Group D: Poland, Netherlands, Austria, France
Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine
Group F: Türkiye, Georgia, Portugal, Czech Republic
The group stage will last until June 26th. The top two in the six groups will go to the round of 16 together with the four best third-placed teams. The knockout phase will begin on June 29th. The final will be played on Sunday 14 July at 9pm at the Olympia Stadion in Berlin.
lapresse Germany vs Scotland – Euro24 mascot
Getty Allianz Arena, Euro 2024
