Germany and the German team achieved the Euro Cup debut that they secretly dreamed of. At the Allianz Arena, the home team faced uncertainty after three failed tournaments. Scotland was a victim of the German desire to act, which only stopped at 5-1.
National coach Julian Nagelsmann only hopes that his team does not float too much after the great victory. As the host country, Germany was already considered by many as one of the favorites, the team and especially the country must also begin to believe in this after the punishment against Scotland.
About the Author
Dirk Jacob Nieuwboer is a sports journalist forby Volkskrant and writes about football and handball.
Due to the atmosphere, the rival was, of course, the ideal candidate to start the Euro Cup. Win or lose, Scottish fans sing, cheer and drink so much that they don’t have time to make a fuss. However, the blue part of the stadium remained silent when in the 19th minute it was already 2-0.
Whistle
The two scorers were baptized ‘Wusiala’ earlier this week, because they look alike on the field and know how to meet each other blindly. Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala are not only 21 years old, but they are also united by a love of haggling. And Nagelsmann gives them the freedom to do so too.
Against Scotland, the creative duo were not only fun to watch but were also immediately effective. First it was Wirtz, who pushed the ball into the corner from the area after a pass from Joshua Kimmich. Nine minutes later, Musiala broke free and fired high into the goal.
The Bayern Munich ball magician, whom his teammates call Bambi and finds it a “cool nickname”, was also responsible for the 3-0 victory. After a beautiful slalom, the ball was passed, after which captain Ilkay Gündogan was brought down. Kai Havert scored the penalty.
The Germans were cautious about their own chances beforehand, which is not unjustifiably so after the dramatically poor results of recent years. The country lost in the group stage of the last two World Cups, the last time it won its first match in a tournament was in 2016.
But secretly the Germans hoped to repeat the 2006 World Cup. Then they also came out of a fall, although minor, but finished in third place with good football. They also surprised the world with their infectious openness and hospitality, the film The summer march gave the tournament the appropriate nickname: a summer fairy tale.
football and beer
Now, as is usual in this type of tournament, there was an opening ceremony to get into the mood. Maybe it was nice for the spectators at home, the stadium didn’t need it. Certainly not the Scots, who came to Munich in search of the irresistible combination of football and beer. “We are in the birthplace of fucking beer,” one cheered long before the game. “We won’t get any closer.”
They did not bring high expectations to Munich, although the Scottish team hopes to survive the group stage of a tournament for the first time. When it came to simply playing football, the Germans completely took over. Musiala in particular was on a roll, roaming the countryside, driving the Scots he encountered crazy.
He received a standing ovation when fifteen minutes before the end he was replaced by local hero Thomas Müller. The crowd’s favorite, Niclas Füllkrug, had already scored 4-0. Another thing that will make Nagelsmann happy, an enthusiastic substitute who does not complain, but who often scores in the minutes he has.
Of course, the real tests are yet to come. Germany proved more vulnerable to counter-attacks under Nagelsmann, who took charge last autumn, but Scotland barely gave up their own half. Especially after Ryan Porteus received a red card (during the penalty) and the Scots had to play the entire second half with ten men. Even the Scottish goal was scored by a German, after a free kick Antonio Rüdiger unfortunately headed the ball behind Manuel Neuer.
It was not the last German goal, as Emre Can, from the other side, scored just before the end. That probably won’t be the last German goal of this tournament, because with so much offensive ingenuity they are inevitable. “I feel it creaking,” star Toni Kroos said expectantly on his podcast the day before the game. After this start, he is no longer the only one.
