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Germany5 - 1Scotland

sportsmole.co.uk, 14 June 2024, 21:40
Germany glistened while Scotland crumbled in Friday's Euro 2024 Group A opener at the Allianz Arena, where the tournament hosts smashed Steve Clarke's men 5-1 in Munich.

Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz, Emre Can, Niclas Fullkrug and Jamal Musiala all found a way through the permeable Scotland backline, which was carved open at will both before and after Ryan Porteous saw red for a horrendous tackle on Ilkay Gundogan.

An Antonio Rudiger own goal via a Scott McKenna header at least gave the Tartan Army something to cheer for a very brief period, but the Scots were otherwise blown to smithereens by the fired-up Mannschaft.

Here, Sports Mole provides player ratings from Germany's emphatic triumph in Group A.

GERMANY

Goal

Manuel Neuer: A mere spectator in the first half and was unsighted by Rudiger's deflection for Scotland's consolation. Little he could have done. (6/10)

Defence

Joshua Kimmich: First assist of Euro 2024, calmly picking out Wirtz on the edge of the box before also providing the delivery which eventually led to Havertz's spot kick. Always available and always threatening. (8/10)

Antonio Rudiger: Amid his few defensive duties, caught the eye with some slick long passes and tried his luck a couple of times before an unfortunate deflection. Otherwise untroubled. (7/10)

Jonathan Tah: Went into the book for a late challenge on Ryan Christie, but like Rudiger, had hardly any actual defending to do. Good in the air and on the ball. (6/10)

Maximilian Mittelstadt: Justified his selection at left-back over David Raum. Could have had an assist with a fine delivery to Wirtz at the back post and got into promising positions for shots. Amid reports of interest from Arsenal, did his chances of a move no harm at all. (7/10)

Midfield

Toni Kroos: Fifty-five first-half passes attempted, 55 completed. Germany's conductor-in-chief who pinged long pass after long pass with immaculate accuracy. Can somebody convince him to stick around? (8/10)

Robert Andrich: Typically combative midfield display, but gave away several fouls and was booked before being taken off at the break. Not his finest. (5/10)

Ilkay Gundogan: Silky turn in midfield to spark the attack for Jamal Musiala's goal. All were fortunate to see him emerge unscathed from Porteous's awful challenge. (7/10)

Attack

Jamal Musiala: Became Germany's youngest men's Euros scorer with an emphatic strike into the roof of the net, which was a sign of things to come. Nearly won his side a penalty in a first half littered with mazy dribbles and played a key part in Fullkrug's strike. Man of the match. (9/10)

Kai Havertz: Had seemingly passed up a promising chance before setting up Musiala, and notched his own from the penalty spot with a confident strike. Carrying on his end-of-season form with Arsenal and another Mannschaft maestro on the evening before being taken off just after the hour. (9/10)

Florian Wirtz: An appropriate first goalscorer of Euro 2024. Immediate threat from the first whistle and took his strike brilliantly, even if Angus Gunn gave him a helping hand. Missed a couple of chances just before his withdrawal, though.(8/10)

Substitutes

Pascal Gross: On for Andrich at half time and provided a calming influence in the middle, albeit without doing anything of note in the final third. Failed to get goal-side of McKenna for Scotland's goal. (5/10)

Leroy Sane: Had a chance mere seconds after coming on but rolled the ball straight at Gunn. Some nice touches but nothing to suggest he can threaten Wirtz or Musiala for a start. (5/10)

Niclas Fullkrug: Phenomenal strike for Germany's fourth a few minutes after his introduction. Had a second disallowed for offside. Industrious centre-forward display (7/10)

Thomas Muller: Saw little of the action in the final 15 minutes but registered a late assist for the man below. (7/10)

Emre Can: Only called up a day ago to replace the ill Aleksandar Pavlovic and curled in a beautiful fifth right at the death. A very competent replacement indeed. (7/10)

SCOTLAND

Goal

Angus Gunn: Good starting positions to snuff out attacks and clear danger, but should have done better for Germany's first and final goals. (4/10)

Defence

Anthony Ralston: Powerless to stop Wirtz or Musiala in their tracks and was run ragged. Booked. (4/10)

Jack Hendry: Snuffed out an early Wirtz chance and made a few crucial clearances. Not disastrous individually but another who was overwhelmed. (4/10)

Ryan Porteous: Started well by stopping an early Musiala run in its tracks before a disgusting challenge on Gundogan. Deservedly sent off and now suspended for Switzerland. (2/10)

Kieran Tierney: Had more touches than any other Scotland defender and could not shoulder much blame for any of Germany's five goals. (4/10)

Andrew Robertson: Too slow to react for Wirtz's early chance in the second half but made a good impact towards the end. Vital clearance to deny Kimmich a simple finish and caused chaos with the free kick that led to McKenna's consolation. (5/10)

Midfield

Scott McTominay: Did his best in the middle and made a handful of pivotal interventions but was otherwise ineffective. (5/10)

John McGinn: Like Scotland's other offensive players, did little in the first half barring a couple of tackles. Was dribbled past far too easily, though, and came off in the 67th minute. (3/10)

Callum McGregor: Selected over Billy Gilmour and did not totally vindicate Clarke's decision. Turned far too easily by Gundogan for Germany's second but then made a vital block to deny the same man in the second half. Taken off with a quarter of the game left. (4/10)

Ryan Christie: Fortunate to only give away a free kick when he brought down the tricky Musiala right on the edge of the box. Drew a few fouls of his own. (4/10)

Attack

Che Adams: Anonymous up front, but was completely starved of service. Had just 13 touches of the ball before coming off at half time after Porteous's red card. (3/10)

Substitutes

Grant Hanley: Unfortunate deflection to inadvertently set up Fullkrug. Another mistake to ricochet ball in off Fullkrug before offside flag saves his bacon. (4/10)

Kenny McLean: Came on for the final quarter of the match and was largely chasing shadows. (3/10)

Billy Gilmour: Overlooked for a start and had just nine touches, albeit while misplacing just one pass. (4/10)

Scott McKenna: Fortuitous late header to help prolong Germany's streak without a clean sheet in major tournaments. (5/10)

Lawrence Shankland: Had just four touches in the final 10 minutes. (4/10)

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