Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

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)

Top News

22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly earmarked Leeds United shot-stopper Illan Meslier as one of two goalkeeper targets ahead of the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified Burnley's James Trafford as their top transfer target for the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain defender Nuno Mendes has reportedly indicated he will take time to consider his future before he commits to a new contract. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Eddie Howe will be nervous about holding onto star striker Alexander Isak at Newcastle as his fine goalscoring form continues. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has named his starting side for Sunday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth at Old Trafford. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Enzo Maresca has opted to use Levi Colwill as a replacement for the suspended Marc Cucurella for Sunday's Premier League game at Everton. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal broke an English football record in their 5-1 Premier League thrashing of Crystal Palace on Saturday, but it came at a significant cost, as Bukayo Saka was taken off with a suspected hamstring problem in the first half. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku is allegedly generating interest from at least five clubs. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona reportedly remain fully behind head coach Hansi Flick despite the team's latest title setback against Atletico Madrid on Saturday night. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Southampton's new head coach Ivan Juric is one not to be messed with as his physical scrap with Torino's sporting director showed. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to pick up a third straight home win in the Primeira Liga, Vitoria de Guimaraes play host to Nacional at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques on Monday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is reportedly looking for the Red Devils to build a new scouting team in Portugal in a bid to unearth the next Cristiano Ronaldo. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is reportedly not interested in signing Manchester United attacker Alejandro Garnacho during next summer's transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool must take advantage of Tottenham Hotspur's considerable weaknesses and will be confident of victory on Sunday according to Reds expert David Lynch. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Union Saint-Jean vs. Monaco (Sunday, 1.45pm) On Sunday, in a David vs. Goliath affair, Union Saint-Jean can pull off one of the biggest upsets in Coupe de France history when they take on Monaco in the round of 64 at Stadium de Toulouse. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gaziantep vs. Antalyaspor (Sunday, 10.30am) After their Turkish Cup victory in midweek, Gaziantep will now turn their attention to the Turkish Super Lig, with Antalyaspor visiting the Kalyon Stadyumu in Sunday's gameweek 17 encounter. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Santa Clara vs. Braga (Sunday, 5.00pm) Still reeling from crashing out of the Taca de Portugal, Santa Clara return to action in the Primeira Liga when they play host to Braga at the Estadio de Sao Miguel on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sparta vs. Ajax (Sunday, 11.15am) Ajax will be looking to end the year on a high when they travel to Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel to take on a stuttering Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia vs. Alaves (Sunday, 1.00pm) Valencia will attempt to claim their third league when they welcome relegation rivals Alaves to Mestalla for Sunday's crucial La Liga encounter. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma vs. Parma (Sunday, 11.30am) Both struggling in the bottom half of the Serie A standings, Roma and Parma will hope for an early Christmas gift when they meet at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk VfL Bochum vs. Heidenheim (Sunday, 2.30pm) In a relegation six-pointer, VfL Bochum will hope to defeat Heidenheim when they welcome them to Vonovia Ruhrstadion on Sunday in their 15th Bundesliga game of the season. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Dundee Utd vs. Celtic (Sunday, 12.00pm) Celtic, looking to maintain their unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership, will travel to Tannadice Park on Sunday afternoon to face Dundee United. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton vs. Chelsea (Sunday, 2.00pm) Chelsea have the chance to go top of the Premier League for a brief time at least when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk South American giants Palmeiras have reportedly sent an 'initial proposal' to Fulham for midfielder Andreas Pereira. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Nuno Espirito Santo will rival Arne Slot to win the Premier League's Manager of the Year award. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona want to sever ties with attacker Ansu Fati at the earliest opportunity in the January transfer window but the player is rebelling against a move, according to a report. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane has confirmed that he wants to remain at the Allianz Arena despite links with a return to the Premier League next year. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Serie A powerhouses Napoli have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Manchester United defender Harry Maguire on a free transfer next summer. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Sorloth scored a last-gasp winner as Atletico Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to go top of the La Liga table.