Sports Mole takes a look at the seven key team and player-related records set following Germany’s thumping 5-1 win over Scotland in their opening Euro 2024 fixture.
Germany began their quest to win an unprecedented fourth continental title in emphatic fashion as they put Scotland to the sword 5-1 in Friday’s Euro 2024 opener at the Allianz Arena.
After suffering embarrassing group-stage eliminations in two of their last three major tournament appearances, Die Mannschaft hit the ground running with a statement Euros victory in their first Group A fixture on home soil, as they outclassed a sorry Scotland outfit that played the entire second half with 10 men.
Two goals in the opening 19 minutes from Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala gave the Tartan Army a mountain to climb, before Kai Havertz converted from the penalty spot to put Germany three goals to the good on the stroke of half time after Ryan Porteous was deservedly shown a straight red card for a late stud-showing tackle on Ilkay Gundogan.
Substitute Niclas Fullkrug made it 4-0 with a thumping 68th-minute volley from the edge of the area, rubbing salt into Scotland’s wounds, although Steve Clarke‘s side had something to cheer when Antonio Rudiger inadvertently directed a header past Manuel Neuer to give the visitors a late consolation.
However, Germany quickly restored their four-goal cushion as Emre Can came off the bench to curl a powerful long-range strike into the bottom corner, putting the icing on the cake for Julian Nagelsmann‘s men in stoppage time.
Germany’s merciless demolition of Scotland has seen them etch their name in the history books, and here, Sports Mole takes a look at the seven key team and player-related records set following Friday’s thumping triumph.
© Reuters
Host nation Germany set new Euros record
Germany’s 5-1 victory over Scotland is the biggest-ever win for the host nation at a European Championship and also represents the biggest margin of victory for any team in the opening fixture of the tournament.
Germany extend their own winning record at Euros
Germany have also become the first nation in European Championship history to win their opening game of the tournament on eight occasions; no other team has notched up more than six wins in their first game.
Goals galore in fine first-half display
Die Mannschaft found the net three times in the first half against Scotland, doing so for the very first time in the opening 45 minute of a European Championship match.
![Germany's Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz celebrate the team's first goal on June 14, 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/24/jamal-musiala-florian-wirtz.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Germany's Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz celebrate the team's first goal on June 14, 2024 [IMAGO]")
Wirtz sets fresh scoring record at Euros
At the age of just 21 and 42 days, Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz – the 2023-24 Bundesliga Player of the Season – has become the youngest player to score for Germany at the European Championship.
Wirtz is only the third German player to score the opening goal of a Euros tournament after national icons Gerd Muller in 1972 and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1980.
Wirtz, Musiala combine to make history
Wirtz’s 10th minute opener in Munich was followed just nine minutes later by a venomous strike from Bayern Munich star Musiala (21 years, 109 days). As a result, Germany have become the first nation to have two players aged 21 or younger to score in the same match at a European Championship.
![Germany's Toni Kroos in action on June 14, 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/24/toni-kroos.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Germany's Toni Kroos in action on June 14, 2024 [IMAGO]")
Pass master Toni in Kroos control
Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, who will be retiring from football after Euro 2024, impressively completed 99% of his passes against Scotland (101 out of 102) – the highest pass completion rate on record (since 1980) by any player to attempt 100+ passes in a single game at the European Championship.
Neuer surpasses Lahm to set new record
Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer made his 35th major international tournament appearance (Euros and World Cups) against Scotland, the outright most of any German player. The 38-year-old has surpassed former Bayern teammate Phillip Lahm (34).
Only Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo (43) and ex-Italy defender Paolo Maldini (36) have made more major international tournament appearances among European players to date.
What next for Germany?
Germany now sit pretty at the summit of Group A and they are sure to keep a watchful eye on Saturday’s encounter between group rivals Hungary and Switzerland.
Nagelsmann’s men are next in action against Hungary at the MHPArena in Stuttgart next Wednesday, before concluding the group stage with a fixture against Switzerland at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt on June 23.
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