 "Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann celebrates after the win against Scotland in Euro 2024. AP")
Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann said his side understood that the 5-1 thumping of Scotland in the Euro 2024 opener was just a “first step”.
Germany, who have struggled at major tournaments in the last decade, blew the Scots off the park with three goals in the first half.
“The team is conscious that this was a first step,” said Nagelsmann as Germany eye a record-breaking fourth European title.
“But it was very good and very important and was something that we can build on.”
Germany opened the scoring after just 10 minutes through Florian Wirtz, with Player of the Match Jamal Musiala adding another on the 19-minute mark.
Kai Havertz scored from the penalty spot to give Germany a 3-0 half-time lead after Ryan Porteous received a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Ilkay Gundogan.
Niclas Fuellkrug and Emre Can then both added second-half goals.
The coach said he “would have signed on the dotted line” before the match to guarantee his side performed like they did on Friday, “even if I didn’t expect it”.
Nagelsmann, who only took over as Germany manager in September, said he was particularly pleased by his side’s reaction to conceding a late goal while 4-0 up.
“We didn’t let in any chances from open play. It was a very good sign for the team to be so pissed off that we conceded that goal.
“That shows the hunger that they had today.”
Havertz said his team had laid down a marker to the rest of the teams in Germany for the tournament.
“I think that when you win 5-1, it’s a message. But it’s just the beginning.
“We saw the quality we have in the team, how good the players are. We’re going to come up against other difficult opponents.”
Having set up Musiala’s goal and converted a penalty, Havertz now has four goals in his past seven Germany matches.
“I think we felt this energy in the stadium from the first minute,” the 21-year-old said.
“The whole country is behind us, we saw it at the training centre. We’re aware of it.”
‘We’ve let ourselves down’: Scotland manager Steve Clarke
Scotland coach Steve Clarke said his team had to quickly forget the rout after admitting the “game ran away from us”.
In 11 past major tournament Scotland have never advanced beyond the group stage and their chances of doing so this summer were jeopardised by a dismal display.
“Obviously we didn’t play to our standard,” said Clarke.
“We feel as though we’ve let ourselves down. We’re a better team than this.”
“This was always going to be a tough night,” said Clarke.
Scotland’s remaining games in Group A are against Switzerland and Hungary.
“We need four points from the next two games and that’s what we’re focused on.
“I’ve had tough nights before. I’ll get over it.”
“The game ran away from us very quickly,” Clarke added while underlining his belief in his team.
“I’ve never doubted my players, never ever.
“We have to move on from this one quickly. Next two matches we have to play much better.”
Germany applaud fans
Gundogan praised the home support, calling it “pure atmosphere” in Munich.
Speaking with TV network Magenta, Gundogan said his side were hoping to “take the euphoria, the atmosphere with us” throughout the rest of the tournament.
The Barcelona midfielder saved special credit for the home fans in Munich, calling the first half “pure atmosphere”.
“We played a really good game. Played with really good intensity, scored goals.
“That’s how you have to do it, that’s how you have to start.”
Musiala also praised the German fans for getting his side off to a flyer.
“We saw the atmosphere in the whole country and that’s what we need.”
“We could not have had a better start,” Musiala said, explaining: “We wanted to start well and that’s what we did.
“We had a good plan, we had trust in our coach and our tactics. When we’re in a good flow, then it works.”
Fuellkrug, who scored and had another ruled out for offside, felt the win was the start of something special, drawing parallels with Germany’s run to the 2006 World Cup semi-finals, now nicknamed the ‘summer fairytale’.
“That was an outstanding beginning to what we want: a summer fairytale.
“We didn’t let up after a single goal. We were really upset about the goal we conceded – and this greed is what we need.”
Snap quotes
“Today was hugely disappointing but you’re playing against the host nation and it’s the first game… things don’t get much tougher than that.”
-- Scotland captain Andy Robertson on his side’s defeat
“We’ll take tomorrow to be angry at ourselves, to be disappointed. And then, come Sunday we have to be positive and then go again.”
-- Robertson looking forward to Scotland’s next game against Switzerland