BERLIN, June 14 (Xinhua) — Host Germany thrashed ten-men Scotland 5-1 in the Euro 2024 curtainraiser at Allianz Arena in Munich on Friday.

Goals from Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Niclas Fullkrug and Emre Can lifted Julian Nagelsmann’s side to the victory in Group A.

Germany started highly motivated on home soil and came off with a bright start as Wirtz unleashed a shot into the bottom left corner to give the hosts the lead with ten minutes gone.

The hosts gained momentum and made it two nine minutes later after Havertz’s through ball allowed Musiala to drill the ball into the roof of the net.

Things went from bad to worse for the Scottish at the brink of halftime as Ryan Porteous was sent off for a rude foul play on Ilkay Gundogan, allowing Havertz to triple the advantage from the penalty spot into the center of the goal.

After the restart, Germany benefitted on its numerical advantage and continued to create opportunities, but Antonio Rudiger’s long-range effort forced Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn into action six minutes into the second half.

Gunn remained in the thick of things as he had to be on guard to deny the efforts from Wirtz and Leroy Sane in quick succession.

Germany eventually made it four with 68 minutes played as joker striker Niclas Fullkrug hammered home a rebound five minutes after his substitution.

Fullkrug thought he had wrapped his brace nine minutes later but his shot from close range was ruled offside by the VAR.

Scotland reduced the arrears out of the blue after Rudiger cleared a header from Scott MeKenna into the wrong goal to make it 4-1 on the scoreboards.

However, the Germans were not done with the scoring and restored their four-goal advantage as joker Can capitalized on Thomas Muller’s square pass to round off the 5-1 victory, which is the highest EURO win for Germany.

“We played very powerful in the first 20 minutes. Scotland was impressed and we scored two quick goals. We created more chances but stayed focussed until the final whistle,” said Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann.

Germany will face Hungary in their second group match on Wednesday while Scotland will play against Switzerland.

Source(s): Xinhua

MADRID, June 11 (Xinhua) — Spain’s teenage international winger Lamine Yamal says he still finds it hard to believe that he is a key part of the country’s squad for the forthcoming UEFA Euro 2024.

The 16-year-old has made himself a key player for FC Barcelona this season and has also become a fixture in Spain’s squad under coach Luis de la Fuente with seven appearances.

“It seems like no time ago that I was watching the Euros on the sofa with my mother,” he said in an interview with Spanish sports paper, Diario AS on Tuesday.

Spain finished top of their qualifying group, after suffering an early setback in Scotland, before turning in some impressive displays, including a 7-1 win in Georgia and a 6-0 thrashing of Cyprus.

They rounded off their preparation with a 5-0 win at home to Andorra and a 5-1 victory over Northern Ireland, and will kick off in Germany against Croatia on Saturday with their morale sky-high.

“We haven’t come here for a stroll, but to try and to make history. I hope we can go a long way in the European Championships,” commented Yamal, although he admitted that would mean missing out on the Olympic Games, which begin soon after the Euros finish.

“I’ll watch the Games on the TV,” he said.

Being just 16 years old has its advantages, but also means extra work for the youngster, who has still to complete his studies.

“I have brought my homework, as I’m in the fourth years of Obligatory Secondary Education. I have classes online and I hope the teacher doesn’t mind,” he joked.

Source(s): Xinhua

BERLIN, June 8 (Xinhua) — The German squad has been granted two days off as a final opportunity to rest ahead of their 2024 UEFA Euro opener against Scotland next Friday.

With mixed feelings, the team members departed for various destinations to meet family and friends after their narrow and laborious 2-1 victory in a friendly against Greece.

On Monday, head coach Julian Nagelsmann will regather the team at their tournament compound in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, to make final preparations. The squad hopes to play a vital role in the Euro on home ground.

As Europe’s most successful team, with three titles and two second-place finishes, Germany feels the burden of expectations. Spain, also with three titles, follows closely behind.

Recent friendlies against Ukraine and Greece highlighted both defensive inconsistencies and a lack of efficiency up front. Manuel Neuer’s mistake, which allowed Greece to score, has become a major topic of discussion as Germany prepares for the Euro’s kick-off on Friday. Venues and cities are setting up various public viewing spots for the event.

Coach Nagelsmann is demanding patience, expressing full trust in his selected squad. He dismissed debates about a possible change of keepers, despite Neuer’s mistakes against Greece and Ukraine.

“We know about our gaps; we will solve them until the Scotland game,” Nagelsmann said, while 2024 Champions League winner Toni Kroos called for more determination.

Toni Kroos, a 2024 Champions League winner, called for more determination. The Real Madrid midfielder was convinced that “we will do well at the tournament, but we need to improve and develop greediness.”

Positives include the value of Germany’s second-row players, such as David Raum, Leroy Sane, Nico Schlotterbeck, Chris Fuhrich, and Pascal Gross. The Brighton midfielder not only scored the winning goal against Greece but also emphasized the importance of “our well-equipped bench.”

Nagelsmann’s strategy involves relying on a core of key players, including Neuer, Antonio Ruediger, Toni Kroos, and Ilkay Guendogan, while recognizing the contributions of the entire squad.

“It’s not only eleven that make a successful tournament, but we are also 26, and everyone is important. That is a good message, and we should keep an eye on that,” Gross added.

Like in the game against Ukraine, substitutes Deniz Undav and Niclas Fullkrug revitalized the German game. Gross described the recent matches as a confidence booster for the second row. “Not only I will follow every minute from the bench to be ready when I am needed. Everyone now is aware he can make a difference even when sitting on the bench at first,” Gross said.