Germany vs. Scotland score: Five different players record goals as hosts kick off Euro 2024 with blowout win (2024)

FT: GER 5, SCO 1

That's as strong a start as it gets for Germany, who cruised to their largest-ever margin of victory in the Euros -- and delivered Scotland's biggest loss at the competition in the process. The hosts were dominant in just about every category and re-establish their case as one of the top contenders for the title.

GER 5, SCO 1

90'+3 Germany just can't stop, can they? This time it's Can's curling shot that lands in the back of the net, something Gunn probably should've stopped but perhaps there's nothing they can do with a Germany team that's just firing on all cylinders.

GER 4, SCO 1

87' Scotland earn a freekick and as a result, their first goal of the competition -- and the first time Scotland have scored in their opening match of the competition. The freekick leads to Rudiger scoring an own goal as the ball comes off his head and after a quick VAR check for offside, the goal stands and the visiting fans finally have something to celebrate.

This isn't an uncommon occurrence for Germany, either -- they've now conceded in each of their last 13 tournament games.

Subs all around

81' Nagelsmann continues to rotate through his options, bringing on Can for Kroos, who receives plenty of appreciation from the fans as he makes his way to the bench. The changes have not slowed Germany's roll at all, while Scotland's substitutes -- the latest being Shankland replacing Christie -- have done little to make their situation any better.

Another change for Scotland

77' Clarke goes to the bench again, this time bringing on McKenna for Tierney after a rough outing for the defense.

Muller's on next

74' Nagelsmann swaps one Bayern player for another, taking off Musiala and switching on Muller. The veteran is now tied for third amongst Germany's cap leaders with Lukas Podolski and though he's already a hall-of-famer for the national team, the illustrious goalscorer still has one thing to check off his bucket list. He's never scored at the Euros despite scoring 45 times for the national team, and may have a chance tonight.

GER 4, SCO 0

68' Fullkrug marks his substitute appearance with a stellar goal, pouncing on a loose ball just outside the penalty area and taking a powerful strike that flies straight into the back of the net. The play starts with yet another stunning run down the left flank from Musiala whose pass into the box first lands to Gundogan. He gets q light touch before the ball rolls backwards to Fullkrug for the goal, allowing Germany to cruise to their biggest ever victory at the Euros if the result holds.

Gilmour comes on

67' Clarke calls upon two players to come onto the game, picking Gilmour and McLean to replace McGregor and McGinn.

Tah booked

62' Just before the substitutes, Tah picked up a yellow card for a late challenge on Christie. This referee hasn't been shy today about yellow cards, and neither has Nagelsmann about avoiding yellow cards suspension so we'll see what this means for Tah for the rest of the game.

Two changes for Germany

63' Nagelsmann goes to the bench for two more changes, this time bringing on Sane and Fullkrug for Havertz and Wirtz, who receive rapturous applause after scoring goals in this opening game.

Wirtz close

57' Germany get close to scoring a fourth thanks in large part to Musiala, who makes a smart run down the left flank and crosses the ball overto Wirtz on the far end of the goal. The Leverkusen midfielder has a great shot but can't keep the ball down so he sends the ball over the net.

That kind of game

51' You know the team with the advantage feels like their cruising to victory when the center back has a look at goal. Rudiger takes a shot from distance and forces a fairly simple save out of Gunn to keep the score 3-0.

Ralston booked

47' Germany eye another chance at goal on the counter, but Ralston gets in the way to ensure they won't have a clean look at goal. He's booked in the process, though Scotland might argue it was worth it to avoid another major chance from Germany.

Second half underway

Germany make one sub at the break -- Groß comes on for Andrich, who was booked in the first half. This marks a first appearance at the Euros for the 32-year-old Groß, who represented Germany at the youth levels but didn't earn his first cap until last September. Scotland also make a sub at half, bringing on Hanley for Adams to add a defender -- and yank a goalscorer -- to survive Germany's offense.

HT: GER 3, SCO 0

Well, that was an awfully lopsided half, wasn't it? Germany executed their game plan perfectly with Wirtz, Musiala and Kroos amongst the standouts but the story of the first 45 minutes might be Scotland's spontaneous combustion. The question of the second half will be if Scotland can find a way to rebound -- or at least stop the bleeding -- against a Germany team that's in fine form.

GER 3, SCO 0

45'+1 Havertz steps up to take the penalty and scores with ease, sending the hosts into the break with a sizable advantage.

Penalty for Germany

44' Kimmich wreaks havoc in Scotland's box with a cross, allowing Gundogan to take a shot from close range. Gunn makes the save and then a follow-up shot by Gundogan is blocked by Porteous. Porteous' foul earns a VAR check and his two-footed tackle means Germany get a penalty because of violent conduct, and the Scotland defender also picks up a red card shortly before halftime. He will likely miss the rest of the group stage now.

Kroos back at it

37' Barely half an hour into Germany's Euros campaign and it's already clear why Kroos was pulled out of international retirement to revive this team. He's orchestrating the midfield performance perfectly so far, and has already completed his first 50 passes. He may be a few short weeks away from retirement, but he's still at the top of his game at age 34.

Andrich booked

31' The first booking of the competition goes to Germany's Andrich, who receives a yellow card after a late challenge on McTominay. Reminder on the yellow card accumulation rules at the Euros: two yellow cards in separate matches results in a one match suspension, and yellow cards aren't wiped until after the quarterfinals.

Gunn makes a save

28' Four or five skilled freekick takers stand on the ball but in the end, Havertz steps up to take the shot. He goes straight for goal and hits the target but Gunn actually makes the save, stopping the bleeding for Scotland early in this match.

Freekick to Germany

24' Things are just going from bad to worse for Scotland, as the referee points to the spot after Tierney and Christie foul Musiala. After a VAR consultation about where the foul actually took place, though, the penalty is scrapped and a freekick on the edge of the penalty area.

GER 2, SCO 0

19' And just like that, it's two for Germany! Havertz makes a great run into the box and even though he's in a strong position to score, he smartly sends the ball to Musiala, who scores from close range for his first goal at the Euros. It might be a long night for Scotland...

GER 1, SCO 0

10' Germany's Euro campaign is officially off to a strong start courtesy of Wirtz, who scores on the team's first shot. Kimmich's ball from the right wing to the center of the pitch finds Wirtz, whose powerful strike from the edge of the penalty arealands straight into the goal.

Let the Euros begin

The first half is officially underway with the hosts dominating the ball in the very early stages of the opening game.

Loud and proud

The Scotland players belt out the national anthem as it plays, and they're not the only ones -- a loud group of passionate fans join them to ensure the song rings around the Allianz Arena, which is clearly hosting a strong contingent of traveling fans. The home fans do the same right after with a loud rendition of the Deutschlandlied, both sets of fans delivering the familiar sounds of an international tournament. Kickoff's right around the corner.

A tribute to Beckenbauer

After a pre-match performance, the festivities continue with a presentation of the trophy coupled with a tribute to Franz Beckenbauer, a Germany icon who won the World Cup as a player and as a coach, following his death in January. Beckenbauer's wife Heidi walked out onto the field with the trophy, as did another Germany World Cup winner in Jurgen Klinsmann and Bernard Dietz, a Euro champion with Germany.

Havertz's time to shine?

Havertz's potential has rarely been up for debate but after several up-and-down seasons, the 25-year-old seems to finally be hitting his stride. He's coming off a 14 goal, seven assist campaign for Arsenal and also scored in Germany's final Euros tune-up, a 2-1 win over Greece, and that's way he's Chuck Booth's choice to win the Golden Boot.

• Booth: "Heading into Euros, Julian Nagelsmann seems set to have Kai Havertz lead the line following a strong end to the season in the same role for Arsenal. While Havertz has been a talented player, he hasn't been someone who has had a consistent run in the same position since leaving Bayer Leverkusen until now, and while he's not a prototypical number nine, getting more time in the position with strong creators behind him for the German national team will give Havertz a great chance at taking home the Golden Boot. Add in that he gets to play against a few weak defenses in the group stage while also playing in his home country, and it's the perfect time for Havertz to show the world that he can be a nine at the highest level while leading a team that has as good of a chance as any to win the entire tournament."

Players to watch

In Morning Footy's Group A preview, Nigel Reo-co*ker singled out three midfielders as the players to watch for Germany -- Kroos, Wirtz and Musiala, who offer a mix of youth, experience and world-class ability to the lineup. Each of them are coming off strong seasons with their clubs -- Kroos had a 10 assist performance in his final season with Real Madrid, Wirtz posted 18 goals and 19 assists during Leverkusen's historic campaign, while Musiala had 12 goals and seven assists for Bayern.

As for Scotland, keep an eye on a Premier League trio -- Robertson, McTominay and McGinn. Robertson was once again a regular for Liverpool during Klopp's final season in charge, McTominay was a saving grace for Manchester United with 10 goals and three assists last campaign and McGinn posted nine goals and seven assists as Aston Villa qualified for the Champions League for the first time in around 40 years.

McGinn starts for Scotland

Scotland's lineup includes several high-profile Premier League players, including Aston Villa's McGinn and Manchester United's McTominay. Here's a look at their starters today.

Scotland starting XI: Gunn, Porteous, Hendry, Tierney, Ralston, McTominay, McGregor, Robertson, Christie, McGinn, Adams

Substitutes: Hanley, Shankland, Kelly, Gilmour, Cooper, Armstrong, Morgan, Conway, Jack, Clark, McCrorie, McLean, Taylor, Forrest, McKenna

Germany's star studded lineup

Nagelsmann's lineup includes several players that play for some of Europe's best clubs, including two recent Champions League winners in Kroos and Rudiger. Here's a look at their starts as they aim to begin their Euro 2024 campaign on a high.

Germany starting XI: Neuer, Kimmich, Rudiger, Tah, Mittelstädt, Andrich, Kroos, Musiala, Gundogan, Wirtz, Havertz

Substitutes: Raum, Groß, Fullkrug, Fuhrich, Baumann, Muller, Beier, Schlotterbeck, Anton, Sane, Henrichs, ter Stegen, Koch, Can, Undav