Euro 2024 started with a bang as hosts Germany set up the fireworks by hitting five goals past a helpless Scotland in the tournament curtain-raiser at Munich. Florian Wirtz got the party started within 10 minutes of the historic evening before Jamal Musiala slammed past Angus Gunn after neat footwork. Julian Nagelsmann’s side went three goals before half-time when Kai Havertz converted from the penalty spot. Scotland’s Ryan Porteous conceded the spot-kick with a two-footed lunge on Ilkay Gundogan, earning him a red card.
Steve Clark’s team were already out of the game and going down to 10 men before the second half added salt to the wound. Germany kept themselves in fifth gear and found their fourth in the 68th minute with a smashing strike from substitute Niclas Füllkrug. The Dortmund striker found the net again shortly after but was chalked offside. Scotland found a lucky consolation in the game when Antonio Rüdiger accidentally headed past Manuel Neuer from a free-kick. However, Emre Can kept the four-goal winning margin intact with his off-the-bench strike in stoppage time.
Records broken in the game
1. Germany have recorded their biggest-ever win at the Men’s European Championships. It is also the biggest-ever victory by a side in the opening game in the competition's history.
2. Scotland have suffered their heaviest defeat at a major international tournament since losing 7-0 to Uruguay at the 1954 World Cup.
3. Germany have won their opening game of a European Championship for the eighth time, the most by any side in the tournament history.
4. Die Mannschaft are the first team to score three goals in the first half of a Euro group stage game since France vs. Belgium in 1984.
5. Florian Wirtz, aged 21 years and 42 days, is the youngest-ever German goalscorer at the Men’s European Championships. He broke teammate Kai Havertz’s record set in the previous edition.
6. The Bayer Leverkusen forward also became the third German to score the opening goal of a Euro tournament after Gerd Müller in 1972 and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1980.
7. For the first time at the Men's European Championships, two players aged 21 or under have scored for the same team in a single game with Jamal Musiala (21 years, 109 days) also finding the net.
8. Julian Nagelsmann became the youngest coach to manage a game in European Championship history.
9. Manuel Neuer has made the joint-most appearances as a goalkeeper at major international tournaments with 35. He has also made the most starts at major international tournaments for Germany.
10. Scotland has not won a game at a major tournament in 28 years and has failed to beat Germany in any game since 1999.
11. Germany has conceded in each of their last 12 games at major international tournaments. This was the second time in Euro history that they conceded from an own goal.
12. Toni Kroos completed 101 of 102 passes attempted with a 99% success rate against Scotland. This is the most by any player to attempt 100 or more passes in a game at the Euros since 1980.
13. Germany v Scotland was the first game in Euros history to include a red card, a converted penalty and an own goal.
