Germany 5 Scotland 1 – Wirtz possible start for Clarke as Scots mauled in Munich

IT was the Wirtz possible start… and it went downhill from there.

Scotland got mauled in Munich in an utterly demoralising Euros opener defeat.

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The Tartan Army turned up at Germany’s Alliance Arena with hope in their hearts.

But this was a night of utter despair.

The travelling supporters backed the team to the hilt but they could only watch as Steve Clark’s side got mannschafted from beginning to end.

Florian Wirtz fired the tournament hosts ahead inside just ten minutes before Jamal Musiala made it 2-0 soon after.

Ryan Porteous was then shown a straight red card for a wild tackle inside the box which saw Kai Havertz make it 3-0 from the penalty spot.

Niclas Fullkrug blasted a fourth before an OG from German defender Antonio Rudiger lifted the spirits of the Scotland support. But even then Emre Can added a fifth in stoppage time.

Germany couldn’t have appeared any cooler as they stepped off their team bus, up the tunnel and onto the pitch in their old-school, 90s style black, yellow and red tracksuits.

Their retro gear harked back to the time when they were winning World Cups and Euros 30 years ago.

Time will tell whether Julien Nagelsmann’s side can turn the clock back to that golden era and go all the way this year.

But with the likes of Toni Kroos in their team, anything is possible.

Clarke must have spent weeks on end thinking about how to deal with the midfield genius who, ridiculously, plans to hang up his boots and retire at the end of this tournament.

Billy Gilmour described him the perfect playmaker earlier in the week as he talked about how he dreamed of going up against the Real Madrid legend.

Yet the reality was that the wee man started this one on the bench.

If it felt like a big call before the game got going then it became massive as Scotland struggled to keep possession in the critical, early stages.

And it was like history was repeating itself.

Gilmour didn’t start against the Czech Republic at Hampden in the opening game of the last Euros – and that was a mistake by Clarke.

Here he was guilty of falling head over heels into the same trap again with the Gilmour now surely the first name on the team-sheet against Switzerland in Cologne on Wednesday night.

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Listen, let’s get it right.

Germany were awesome with some of their play from middle to front pretty much as good at it gets.

But Scotland didn’t half contribute to their own downfall.

Too many just didn’t turn up and bring their A-game to an occasion that demanded it.

For a start, Angus Gunn had to do better at the opening goal. Much, much better.

Sure, Wirtz hit a good shot after being picked out on the edge of the box.

But Gunn got a good hand to it. There was no excuse for the ball ending up in the back of the net.

How they rated

By Gareth Law and Kenny MacDonald

Scotland

Angus Gunn: Should have done better for opener after getting a big hand on Wirtz shot in worst possible start. No chance at No2, the penalty or Fullkrug’s piledriver for the fourth 3

Jack Hendry: Struggled with Germany’s movement all night and needed to step out to close down Wirtz, Musiala and Gundogan more but instead gave them too much space especially at Musiala goal 3

Ryan Porteous: Selected instead of Grant Hanley but had moment of madness when rash two-footed challenge on Gundogan saw VAR check that led to penalty and red card just before break 2

Kieran Tierney: Left-sided centre-back was another who had a difficult and frustrating night trying to pick up opposition runners. Barely had a chance to link with Robertson down their flank. Replaced by McKenna 3

Anthony Ralston: Started ahead of Ross McCrorie and looked to have licence to get forwards early on but caught at second and dropped deeper which took away an out ball option. Booked 3

Callum McGregor: Struggled to pick up Germany’s deep attackers and had Toni Kroos to contend with too. Was turned by Gundogen in move that led to second goal. Vital second half block. Subbed 3

Scott McTominay: Declared fit enough to win 50th cap but was his first match action for three weeks and looked zapped of the proper power which made him such a goal hero during qualification 3

Andy Robertson: Brought up half century of games as skipper but was a night to forget. Was given the runaround and found himself pinned back but free-kick led to consolation 4

Ryan Christie: Another who made it to 50 caps after getting nod ahead of Gilmour. Sigh of relief when spotkick concession was overturned. Pushed up front when down to ten men but frustrating night 3

John McGinn: Went viral with his Schuhplattler dancing but couldn’t get Scotland moving last night. Found it tough to get into the game as Germany midfielders were too hot to handle and subbed 3

Che Adams: Won battle with Lawrence Shankland to start up front but was always going to be a tough shift. Isolated for all of the first half then hooked at half-time after Porteous was sent off 2

SUBS: Grant Hanley (3) left out of the starting line-up but sent on for Adams at break and couldn’t react quickly enough to stop Fullkrug piledriver for No4, Kenny McLean (3) sent on for McGinn, Billy Gilmour (3) shock omission from starting line-up but replaced McGregor midway through second half, Scott McKenna (3) header forced consolation, Lawrence Shankland (2) late runout.

Germany

Manuel Neuer: 38-year-old was under scrutiny on 120th appearance after a series of errors but he can’t have had many easier games in his previous seven major tournaments until he was beaten by team-mate Rudiger’s header late on. 6

Joshua Kimmich: Bayern full-back’s great pass infield set up Wirtz’s opener and he came close with a second-half potshot. Used the extra room he had to good effect. 6

Jonathan Tah: No-frills Bayer Leverkusen central defender always tried to build from the back. Never troubled by Adams. Booked for a hack on Christie. 6

Antonio Rudiger: Real Madrid man was having an easy night until he deflected McKenna’s header in for the Scotland goal. Saw a long-ranger saved by Gunn early in the second-half. 6

Maximilian Mittelstadt: Three months since his debut and Scotland started out trying to target the German problem left-back position. Linked well with Wirtz and blasted a volley over. Solid. 6

Toni Kroos: The retirement-bound 34-year-old was the one the German defenders looked for to build their attacks. Sweeping pass led to the opener and dictated play all night. 8

Robert Andrich: Hulking Leverkusen midfielder was lucky to escape an early booking for a body-check on Christie and after picking up a yellow on the half-hour was hooked at the break. 5

Jamal Musiala: Ferocious finish for second goal, then thought he’d won his side a penalty but ruled outside the area. Great run before penalty Germany did get then set up fourth. 21-year-old was a class act. 9

Ilkay Gundogan: Germany skipper continually tried to get forward. Had a header saved then copped a sore one which led to Porteous red card and penalty. Denied a second-half goal by McGregor block. 8

Florian Wirtz: The Leverkusen 21-year-old was through before being flagged offside in the second minute, then his second international goal rocked Scotland after ten minutes. Blasted great chance over after the break before being subbed. 8

Kai Havertz: Arsenal man expertly picked out Musiala for second goal and his roaming role was always a source of consternation to the Scotland defence. Slotted in the penalty then blocked McTominay’s free-kick before being subbed. 8

SUBS: Pascal Gross (Andrich 46,5) Replaced yellow-carded Andrich; Niclas Fullkrug (Havertz 62,6) Blasted in the fourth, denied a fifth by offside; Leroy Sane (Wirtz 62,5) Had shot saved; Thomas Muller (Musiala 73,4) On for cap no. 130; Emre Can (Kroos 80,5) Late call-up put final nail in the coffin.

There was only ten minutes on the clock at that point and it felt like Clarke’s side had been under the cosh for hours.

With Scotland unable to string three meaningful passes together, Germany’s next goal was inevitable.

It came in 19 minutes, this time Jamal Musiala side-stepping Callum McGregor before blasting an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.

Already the fans back home must have been watching the action from behind the couch.

We got a break in 24 minutes when a penalty decision given against Ryan Christie was overturned, with a free-kick inches outside the box the outcome.

The ref could easily have awarded a spot-kick for Kieran Tierney’s involvement in the incident. But maybe the French official, Clement Turpin, was feeling sorry for us. 

It wasn’t long before Germany were 3-0 ahead, though, with Porteous’  desperate, last-ditch challenge on Gundogan inside the six yard box a penalty all day long. 

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As well as a straight red card.

It ticked all the boxes of being reckless, wild and endangering an opponent with the ex-Hibs man fully deserving the dismissal.

The Watford man may have had the best intention in that split-second moment. But the way he dived in was asking for trouble so he could have no complaints when it got into it.

It was damage limitation after that.

This group of players have faced some difficult moments in the last few years and come through them.

But the second-half demanded a unity and a togetherness to make sure the defeat didn’t turn into an utter embarrassment.

Clarke’s decision to take off striker Che Adams at half-time, and replace him with centre-back Grant Hanley, was understandable.

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The worry was that Germany weren’t going to let up and the boys at the back needed all the help they could get.

Gunn kept out a decent effort from defender Antonio Rudiger early in the second-half. 

But the fourth goal came in 68 minutes, this time Fullkrug smashing home a thunderous shot.

The hitman has a fifth ruled out for off-side.

The Scotland fans were all desperate to hear the final whistle but before it came they were given a reward for their loyal, unflinching support.

A free-kick whipped into the box was headed back across by Scott McKenna with Rudiger diverting it into his own net.

But in the dying second Can beat Gunn again before the agony was finally over.

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