Rob Bagchi live updates At Fussball Arena Munich
Steve Clarke speaks to ITV
Germany were outstanding and we couldn’t match them unfortunately.
The first halfran away from us very quickly and we couldn’t get a foothold. Defensively we weren’t very good and with the ball we weren’t very good.
We were manful in the second half, we managed to nick a goal and are very disappointed to concede the fifth
Four points is the target, I’ve said that all along. We’ve got that ahead of us.
It’s all about a reaction, let’s see how we react. We didn’t get any tonight, so we’ll need four points from two games.
Meanwhile in Berlin
Cafe am Neuen See in Berlin's Tiergarten pic.twitter.com/S4m3Is6h2R
— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) June 14, 2024
Full-time verdict
It was with much sorrow that Scotland’s players trudged off the Munich pitch, after what could only be described as a schooling. They converged on this stadium a joyful throng but left it a weary, ragtag army, with their team’s deficiencies thrown into the sharpest relief by Germany. The hosts, shrugging off a succession of disappointments at major tournaments, looked not just but revived under Julian Nagelsmann, putting five goals past a hapless Angus Gunn. There was little dignity in defeat either for Scotland, with Ryan Porteous shown a straight red for a scandalously high challenge on Ilkay Gundogan. Three years they have waited for this moment, and they could be out in just five more days.
Andy Robertson talks to ITV
First half we got it all wrong. We didn’t show up, we weren’t aggressive enough. We let good players get on the ball. Their game plan worked a million times better. Second half we dug in with 10 men. We lose a sloppy goal at the end but we could have drawn the second half.
It was disappointing but we have to bounce back quickly. There was a lot of things wrong today and we need to sort it because its a quick turnaround to Tuesday.
It’s a reminder of how tough this tournament is. Their big players showed up and made it really difficult for us. We haven’t played to our maximum and you have to do that against the Pot 1 teams.
We take tomorrow to be angry at ourselves but on Sunday we have to be positive and get going again.
Full time: Germany 5 Scotland 1
Germany have marmalised Scotland, dishing out an old-fashioned gubbing, playing them off the park and giving the host country a reason to fall back in love with a team that has disappointed them for the past eight years.
Scotland still have Hungary and Switzerland to play and four points would almost certainly be good enough, possible three. But they will have to raise their game considerably even against two sides who aren’t as slick as Germany.
A quick reply by Germany to score yet again.
The referee and his team can be very happy with the officiating of this game.
The law applied correctly by a referee who remained calm throughout the proceedings
GOAL!
Germany 5 Scotland 1 (Can) Blimey! He was called up only on Wednesday when Pavlich was injured and now the Dortmund captain scores with a right-foot shot into the bottom right from the left of the D, wrapping his instep around it. Gunn again got a hand to it but tipped it inside the post. Scotland were too slow out to Can and he was allowed to pick his spot.
90 min: Germany 4 Scotland 1
We’re going to have three minutes of stoppage time.
Scotland have scored 1 goal from an XG of 0.01 #clinical
— Michael Normanton (@Michael_TSB) June 14, 2024
Goal stands
Germany 4 Scotland 1 (Rudiger og) Free-kick on the left from Robertson thathits Fullkrug and is diverted to McKenna beyond the back post. He tries to head it back across goal but strikes Rudiger on the back of the head and just as he twisted his neck which gave it the power to loop over Neuer.
Giant swathes of red have begun to appear in the Scottish end of the stadium, a reflection of how violently this evening has veered off script. The exit of these fans was premature, it turned out, with Scott McKenna’s header across goal turned in by Antonio Rudiger. It is the first shot on Manuel Neuer’s goal all night, and it does not even come courtesy of a Scotsman. Not that the thousands in navy care much, now that they have some consolation to cheer. “You’re not singing any more,” they cry at the home fans, the irony intact amid the misery.
83 min: Germany 4 Scotland 0
Sane is fed in the inside-right channel and loops a shot straight down Gunn’s throat.
The speed of the decision with the minimum of delay is excellent – the goal was correctly ruled out for offside. Sadly we will not see the semi-automated offside system until several weeks into the new season.
81 min: Germany 4 Scotland 0
Scotland make another change:
Shankland ⇢ Chrsitie.
“Respect everyone, fear no one”: this had been Steve Clarke’s mantra ahead of Scotland’s daunting opener. Well, his team are playing as if they have plenty to fear now, retreating ever deeper to prevent utter humiliation. Niklas Fullkrug is the latest to add to the torment, leathering an explosive strike into the top-right corner. It was recorded at 68.9mph, and Angus Gunn was powerless as the ball flashed by him. This has been a consummate exhibition, with Jamal Musiala roundly applauded as he comes off for Thomas Muller.
GOAL!
Germany 4 Scotland 0 (Fullkrug) Screamer! What a move. Sensational. Musiala and Gundogan combine down the left again and centre to Fullkrug who traps the low cross, lets it bounce and then cuts his foot across a half-volley from 18 yards that flies into the top right corner.
Fullkrug SMASH! 💥pic.twitter.com/3Bp0IU5Dlb
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) June 14, 2024
65 min: Germany 3 Scotland 0
There is a vivid clash of styles in evidence in this second half, with Germany’s waves of fluid attack in stark contrast to Scotland’s desperate, agricultural tackling. So ragged are Steve Clarke’s defenders that even Antonio Rudiger fancies his luck from distance, with his low effort only just tipped wide by Angus Gunn. Even by the standards of Scottish failures at major tournaments, this has been a catalogue of horrors. The only sound from their fans now is of a lone bagpiper playing Flower of Scotland, a defiant anthem rendered a funereal lament.
60 min: Germany 3 Scotland 0
Musiala is devouring Ralston on toast, mesmerising with his dribbling and feints. Having beaten him, he fizzes over another cross that Gunn knocks out with a foot and McGregor makes a fine and vital block to stop Gundogan’s goal-bound shot from 10 yards.
60 minutes into the game and we are witnessing how much better VAR is operating in Europe.
The leadership, direction delivered by Uefa managing director of refereeing Roberto Rossetti is the benchmark that the PGMOL must aspire to.
Germany’s Tah correctly yellow carded for a reckless challenge.
58min: Germany 3 Scotland 0
Good chance for Wirtz at the back post on the half-volley when Musiala’s cross is whipped over from the left. Robertson leaves Wirtz to challenge Havertz for the header so when the ball falls to the Leverkusen forward he has a clear path to goal but he can’t get his knee over it and hammers it over the bar.
50 min: Germany 3 Scotland 0
Scotland, caught between two stools without a forward to press from the front, allow Rudiger to stroll through to 25 yards a thump a shot that was shaping away from goal but Gunn had to deal with and he pushes it round the post.
The referee team led by Clement Turpin will be happy with their first half performance.
The referee will maintain tight control of proceedings having discussed with his colleagues a quick run through of the big decisions,
Scotland player correctly issued with a yellow card early in the second half.
48 min: Germany 3 Scotland 0
Ralston is booked for a clumsy foul on Musiala whose dazzling feet threatened to diddle him. A minute before Scotland had a free-kick wide on the left that McTominay whipped to the near post. Havertz sees it clear.
Forgot to say Nagelsmann also made a change, possibly because of his first-half booking:
Gross ⇢ Andrich.
Half-time verdict
Even on paper, it was not a fair contest: Ryan Porteous of Watford against Ilkay Gundogan, the superstar of Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Barcelona. In the flesh, the mismatch was even more brutal, with the Scottish centre-half launching into a disgraceful, potentially leg-breaking challenge on the Germany captain. You could tell its severity from the reaction of the German substitutes, all of whom pleaded with referee Clement Turpin to change his mind. He did more than this once he had seen the monitors, sending Porteous off. It capped 45 minutes of abject misery for the Scots, whose fans arrived here fortified by hours of Marienplatz drinking but who looked ready to call it a night by half-time. This could be 5-0 or worse yet.
Scottish solution?
Can’t think of anything they can truly achieve with 10 men but Gilmour ought to come on for McGregor who has been too slow and see if Shankland can hold the ball up better than Adams. Gunn was at fault for the first and I’m not sure if he could have caught Gundogan’s header rather than parrying it which led to Porteous’s desperate lunge and red card.
Half-time: Germany 3 Scotland 0
Well. No succour for Scotland at all. They’ve been properly outclassed by a side that will restore a country’s affection for it if they carry on in this vein.
True, Scotland have been shambolic, but it is hard to overstate Germany’s improvement on this evidence from the 2022 World Cup. In Qatar they were a dysfunctional rabble, with arguments in team meetings and players turning on Hansi Flick for his dogmatic approach. His successor Julian Nagelsmann, just 36, has injected fresh vibrancy into every department of their play. You can see him imploring his team for more even as Scotland cry out for mercy, and his efforts are repaid when Ryan Porteous makes a dreadful challenge on Ilkay Gundogan to concede a penalty. Porteous deservedly sees red.
Had to be red
It was a reckless foul. He may have slipped but the impact was sickening and Gundogan is struggling. Which means Havertz will take the pen.
Uefa made it very clear that they would clamp down on dangerous tackles. Scotland can have no complaints. The challenge was worthy of a penalty kick the challenge endangered the safety of an opponent.
VAR penalty check and possible red card for Porteous
He plants his studs into Gundogan’s ankle with his left leg as he scrambled desperately to stop Gundogan knocking the ball into the net.
A great run from Musiala, real swagger, and stands the cross up for Gundogan whose header is parried by Gunn and then Gundogan is knobbled by Porteous as he tried to leap into the fray.
PENALTY awarded. And Porteous is sent off.
That Ryan Porteous red card 😳🟥pic.twitter.com/7Wzkps9AKH
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) June 14, 2024
36 min: Germany 2 Scotland 0
Hendrie, playing in the middle of the back three, has seen a lot of the ball in the past few minutes but there are so few options for him he gives it to Porteous who gives him it back. Rinse and repeat until Porteous launches a pass up the right that bypasses Ralston and Adams before Neuer gobbles it up.
32 min: Germany 2 Scotland 0
Scotland have no one to pass the ball out to when they have it at the back so they pump it long and lose it.
Scotland could hardly have scripted a grislier opening act. It was almost embarrassing how much time and space Jamal Musiala had on the edge of the area, shifting the ball out of his feet before smashing the ball beyond the helpless Angus Gunn. Yawning gaps had been appearing all over the pitch, with Kai Havertz repeatedly looking to latch on to the ball in behind. It was not before time that he took his cue, unleashing Musiala to wreak havoc. It looked as if the agonies might be compounded when Germany were awarded a penalty, but Ryan Christie’s foul on Musiala took place outside the box.
It’s a free-kick not a penalty
Inches from the 18-yard line where Christie kicked Musiala’s right leg before Tierney booted his left ankle.
The referee delayed his decision on the penalty kick initially. Then pointed to the mark
VAR reviewed the decision and correctly awarded a free kick to Germany the offence outside the area,
We then witnessed how only the Captain is allowed to talk to the referee.
It worked very well
Germany penalty!
Musiala is brought down by Tierney who kicks his ankle after Christie catches him just outside the box.
Two down and looking grim for Scotland after 20 minutes. They are 5-4-1 out of possession - which is most of the time. One major problem is the low block gives a lot of space to Toni Kroos to get on the ball. That said, not much can be done when Ilkay Gundogan spins like he did in midfield. The finish from Jamal Musiala was brilliant too. Germans are in great form.
GOAL!
Germany 2 Scotland 0 (Musiala) Lovely move, exploiting the gap between the back five and the midfield four. Gundogan invades that space and spins a fine pass out to Havertz on the left of the box. Ralston can’t get tight enough and the Arsenal forward feigns to line up a shot then slips it to Musiala 15 yards out and he judges the shot perfectly, rifling it unstoppably into the roof of the net.
Musiala magic 🪄pic.twitter.com/WoKFRde2ld
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) June 14, 2024
16 min: Germany 1 Scotland 0
Scotland snap into the press high up, forcing Neuer to put his boot through the ball, whacking it high up the right for a throw. Scotland work it back to Porteous who goes long, up to Adams, but the ball bounces off him as he is challenged by Tah and Germany regain possession which they are currently dominating 77-23 per cent.
Refreshing to witness a speedy check by VAR team on Germany first goal.
14 min: Germany 1 Scotland 0
Scotland’s problems stem from basically retreating into a 5-4-1 without the ball which allows Germany’s full-backs to bomb on as they have no wingers or marauding full-backs to worry about. Kimmich was in tons of space between Robertson and Christie.
Scotland fans rally the troops with Flower of Scotland.
That makes 20 goals and 22 assists for Florian Wirtz in a stellar season for club and country. The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder’s latest masterstroke flowed from a sumptuous crossfield ball by Toni Kroos, allowed by Scotland’s low block to do essentially as he pleased. Kimmich squared to Wirtz, whose low shot wriggled in at the far post, off Angus Gunn’s outstretched hand. This was a nightmare in slow motion for the Scottish fans massed three storeys high behind Gunn’s goal. Having drowned out for the home supporters for volume in the hours before kick-off, they have now virtually fallen silent.
GOAL!
Germany 1 Scotland 0 (Wirtz) Kroos hits a diagonal out to the right from his own half, the ball dipping perfectly into Kimmich’s path. He whips over a low cross to the D and Wirtz steers a shot first time towards the bottom left. Gunn gets a hand on it and only succeeds in slapping it on to the post. Needed a stronger writs there. Nice strike, sweetly struck but it was hardly a bullet.
Florian Wirtz becomes Germany's youngest ever goalscorer at the men's Euros 🙌pic.twitter.com/zXHYMAf5aD
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) June 14, 2024
1 min: Germany 0 Scotland 0
Germany kick off and attack from right to left, building patiently, shifting the ball up the left until Mittelstadt cuts back inside, retreats and switches the ball to Kimmich on the right. He chips a long diagonal over Scotland’s defence to Wirtz to go one on one with Gunn but Ralston, though he triggered the trap alarmingly late, catches him offside.
Resounding rendition of the anthems
Flower of Scotland was extraordinarily loud … as is Deutschlandlied.
Flower of Scotland! 🗣️🏴pic.twitter.com/LX0MG4k8zU
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) June 14, 2024
Out come the teams
A very low-key, inoffensive opening ceremony of flags, dancers, dry ice and a few explosions. Compared to previous efforts it looked pretty frugal. Maybe we are entering a new era where the requirement for the proverbial dancing elephants and grand theatre is behind us. If so it’s very much to be welcomed. This was a school assembly vibe and then - let’s get on with the football. What they do with the inflatable Henri Delaunay Trophy is up to them. Maybe just release it to float gently upwards.
Heidi Beckenbauer brings on the trophy
She represents West Germany’s victory in 1972 and she is flanked by Messrs Klinsmann and Dietz, captains in 1996 and 1980.
Moving moment when Franz Beckenbauer’s widow Heidi brings out the trophy and a tribute is played to ‘Der Kaiser’ on the big screen. “We will never forget you,” says the stadium announcer. A complicated legacy, it’s fair to say, but the defining life of West German and German football.
Out come the flags
And jets of steam. Lots of running around in concentric circles. The costumes make sense now as the various ones congregate to form footballs, flags and the tournament logo. The performers wave and blow kisses to the crowd. Now they’re waving massive flares, shooting sparks.
That was short and relatively sweet.
The players are in the tunnel.
On the big screen
Sir Alex Ferguson currently addressing the Scotland fans on video from big screens at thestadium in Munich, in a message that was no doubt filmed Chez Fergie in front of his tartan curtains. He is also here in the stadium VIP seats. Hard enough at the best of times to hear the PA system but the Glaswegian accent drawing baffled looks from the Germans.
[And here’s Sir Alex’s message]
💬 A message from Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of the opening match 🏴#EURO2024 | #GERSCO pic.twitter.com/Czy1fxRSuO
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 14, 2024
Steve Clarke talks to ITV
It’s been a long wait [for the supporters] and a long day for us too with a late kick-off. We’ll have to defend very well. Can we play the perfect game? Probably not because nobody can. But can we eliminate mistakes? That’s what we need to do.
We understand the strengths and weaknesses of Germany. People can say what they want [about being underdogs]. For us, it’s a game that if we win it, it will be a fantastic feeling. That’s what we’ll try to do.
Billy Gilmour is on the bench
It is a major call by Steve Clarke to leave Brighton’s Billy Gilmour on the bench, instead opting to reintroduce Scott McTominay after injury. The Manchester United midfielder will partner John McGinn and Callum McGregor, while Che Adams steps in for Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland up front, by virtue of his advantage in pace. The gifted Ryan Christie of Bournemouth will be alongside him, but the challenge that Scotland confront here is ominous. That record of never having been beyond the group phase at a major finals looks precarious against a Germany side propelled by the thrilling attacking flair of Jamal Musiala.
Today in Marienplatz
For more than 850 years, Marienplatz has been the main square of Munich. As of this week, though, it seemingly no longer belongs to the locals. This corner of Germany is unquestionably Scottish territory now, following the remarkable invasion of the blue-shirted, kilt-wearing members of the “Tartan Army”.
According to some estimates, up to 200,000 Scots – roughly four per cent of the country’s population – have travelled to Munich this week. Others have put the figure a little lower, at a more conservative 100,000. Either way, it has been an extraordinary few days in this grand old city, as Bavaria has become the scene of Scotland’s biggest footballing party in a generation.
Marienplatz is described by the locals as “the heart of Munich” but, by Friday afternoon, the square was moving to a different beat. The sound of bagpipes filled the air and the blue smoke of flares drifted through the skies as the Scottish fans prepared for their country’s opening match of the European Championship against Germany.
The local fascination with the Tartan Army was summarised by Bild, the German tabloid newspaper. “Scottish fans drink Munich dry!” screamed the headline. “Only the Scots rock like that!”
Many of the locals, it must be said, were rocking with the Scots. Across Munich, German fans in white replica shirts posed for pictures with those in blue. “It’s wonderful,” one German supporter in Marienplatz told the Telegraph. “Everyone is so friendly. I have never seen this for an international game.”
Tonight’s referee
Is Clément Turpin, who has the misfortune of being French, unfortunate in that he is unlikely to referee the closing stages of World Cups and Euros. You will have seen him in plenty of Champions League action, notably the 2022 final between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Stade de France and the 2021 Europa League final between Man Utd and Villarreal. Rio Ferdinand once accused him of being overly theatrical, someone who wanted to make the game ‘all about him’. Pots and kettles spring to mind.
The two teams
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) June 14, 2024Team news! 📣
Che Adams leads the line for Scotland
🇩🇪 Germany 🆚 Scotland 🏴#TelegraphFootball | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/1wT06l45fq
Scotland line up 3-4-2-1
Gunn (Norwich); Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Porteous (Watford), Tierney (Arsenal); Ralston (Celtic), McTominay (Manchester United), McGregor* (Celtic), Robertson (Liverpool); Christie (Bournemouth), McGinn (Aston Villa); Adams (Southampton).
* Apologies for having Gilmour in original post.
Germany as predicted
Gemeinsam für Deutschland! 🖤❤️💛#dfbteam #euro2024 #gersco
— DFB-Team (@DFB_Team) June 14, 2024
📸 DFB/Thomas Böcker pic.twitter.com/N0Xx4GiFVQ
And here’s the ‘Sir’ from Yes Sir, I Can Boogie
Sir Alex Ferguson enjoying himself with Scotland fans out in Germany ahead of tonight's big game! 👏🏴 pic.twitter.com/Pdxrscrd3Y
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) June 14, 2024
— Utilita Football (@UtilitaFootball) June 13, 2024Scotland fans boogie on a flight 🏴 ✈️
There will be a few like this on the way to Germany 🤣 @ScotlandNT | #EURO2024pic.twitter.com/rJPrq7RlRH
No Scotland, no party
Quiet one in Munich… pic.twitter.com/8eqw39r1rM
— Seán McGill (@seanmcgill8) June 13, 2024
Opening ceremony is a tribute to Beckenbauer
Tonight’s opening ceremony will be a tribute to Franz Beckenbauer who died in January at the age of 78. Heidi, the widow of the captain of West Germany’s Euro 72 and 1974 World Cup-winning sides and manager of the 1990 World Cup winners, will be joined by Euro 96-winning captain Jürgen Klinsmann and his Euro 80 West Germany counterpart Bernd Dietz in the party carrying the Henri Delaunay trophy on to the field.
Singing Ho ho ho Subbuteo
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) June 14, 2024Matt and Mike run us through who they think Southgate will select in his starting XI 🧐
Plus @Matt_Law_DT questions @mcgrathmike on his breakfast choices but as we all know, he is all about 'starting the day right' 💪#TelegraphFootball | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/eNVFRynQef
Scotland’s centre-forward dilemma
Without the injured Lyndon Dykes, Steve Clarke will have chosen between Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland, who has scored 48 goals in the last two Premiership seasons and scored against Finland at Hampden seven days ago, and Southampton’s Che Adams, who scored in the victory over Gibraltar and contributed 16 goals to Southampton’s promotion campaign.
Sam Dean is our man on the ground in Munich
Marienplatz, Munich. It's so full of Scotland fans that the local police are stopping anyone else from getting in. Everyone is having a really lovely time — Germans and Scots. pic.twitter.com/B4RrCDh4F4
— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) June 14, 2024
Preview: Pride of the Tartan Army
Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of the Euro 2024 opener between the hosts Germany and Scotland from Munich. The European Championship has not been kind to host nations – only France in 1984 in an epic tournament won on home soil – but only in 2008, when both Austria and Switzerland lost their first games, have the hosts been beaten since the competition mushroomed in 1980.
Germany come into the match unbeaten in 2024, having beaten France in March to start their run when Julian Nagelsmann welcomed Toni Kroos back and the team suddenly began to click with Ilkay Gundogan playing further forward and Kai Havertz coming of age in the false nine role. Scotland, by contrast, lost their March friendlies with Northern Ireland and Netherlands before beating Gibraltar and drawing with Finland this month. Having lost two and drawn one of their three previous Euro opening matches, they start this one very much as underdogs. But even if they should lose today, Steve Clarke is confident the process can still yield a first ever qualification for the knockout stages of a continental and global tournament.
“The enormity of the opener is a bit of a sideshow and hopefully we don’t get too involved in that, “ he said. “It’s a difficult game. One of the mantras I’ve always had is respect everyone and fear no one. We have respect for the host nation, we know they’re a good team but hopefully we can show everyone we’re a good team as well.
“I can enjoy it. I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in big matches, the Champions League final for example, it was nice to be involved in the last Euros. I can enjoy it, but I’ll enjoy it even more once we’ve got four points on the board.”
It is the second successive Euros for the Scots under Clarke and he said: “I think we should all be proud that we’re here. It’s been a long time since 1998 when we actually travelled abroad to appear in a tournament like this.”
And he said that the Tartan Army’s invasion of Bavaria will “give us a big boost. They’re going to be behind us in every minute of every game and that’s really important for us. We’ve had a little taste of it already at our base in. I’m sure there will be a few around in Munich tonight that we won’t see. We hope they will enjoy themselves and behave themselves.”
