In what was a closely fought opening period, in front of a sell-out stadium, it was a game of high spirit – on and off the pitch – bot it was the hosts who showed their true class, by beating 10-man Scotland 5-1, with goals from Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Niclas Fullkrug and Emre Can for Germany, and an own goal by Antonio Ruediger for the Scots. But the underdog’s optimism was nothing more than a dream for the Tartan Army.
Manager Steve Clarke’s malaise spread too far and too wide and the difference in quality was so embarrassingly deep that Gilmour from the start would have gone down with the ship just like the rest of them. He promised that Scotland’s lacklustre performances of recent times would sharpen up once the competitive juices of tournament football started flowing again.
He now has a squad on his hands that talked a good game leading into this but who couldn’t manage a shot on goal not to mind a shot on target. Germany, on the other hand, were almost effortlessly superior, scored five and could have scored six and seven once Porteous exited after a lunge that made anybody watching it wince almost as much as Ilkay Gundogan, who happened to be on the end of it.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann, said: "In the first 20 minutes we were impressive ... we scored two early goals and overall, we were very focused and concentrated," whilst midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, said: "That is how we wanted to start.
“That was the start we wanted, but still, the goal we conceded showed that all teams have quality, and if you don't pay attention, you will be punished." Scotland captain Andy Robertson said: “We just got it all wrong in the first half.
“We didn't show up. We have to bounce back quickly, because there was lots wrong here and it’s a quick turnaround now.”
