I can’t really let the start of Euro 20224 go by, and Scotland’s ‘performance’ against Germany in the opening game, without saying anything, can I?
As always for a Scotland football team when we qualify for the Euros or World Cup, we get way ahead of ourselves, and start talking about us qualifying from our group, before we’ve even kicked a ball in the tournament! We really should know better, but still we get over excited.
This time in the build up to the Euros in Germany, which we played superbly in qualifying, to actually get there. However, since securing our place at the tournament, let me honest, Scotland have not played well in any game they have played – We don’t look like we’re going to score, and at the back we just look like we’ll lose a goal every time the opposition comes at our box. It’s just not been good enough.
And so we had the unenviable task of playing the opening game of Euro 2024 against the hosts, Germany. Many said it was a great time for us to play Germany…but it’s Scotland at an international tournament, we should know we’ll not do well!
So Friday night, full of optimism and expectation, thousands of Scotland fans travelled to Germany to support the team, while those still in Scotland found themselves a place to watch Scotland take to the field for the 20:00 kick-off on Friday evening.
After about 20 minutes of the game, it was clear Scotland hadn’t a clue – The formation was wrong, we were playing 3 at the back given Germany’s excellent pacy wingers loads of space to run into, and time to pick out their next pass or cross. As for our keeper, he assisted Germany with several of their goals as he failed to get a strong hand on the hand, or pushed their shots straight back out to them.
Our task was made even harder when we were reduced to 10 mens after one of our defenders gave away a penalty after fouling a German player when trying to clear the ball after our keeper had pushed it straight out.
All in all, it was an embarrassing performance from Scotland. To be honest, I expected us to lose, but I had hoped we’d at least give a good account of ourselves, and possibly sneak a goal – Yes, we did sneak a goal, but the end result was a humiliating 5-1 defeat.
I do not hold out hope for a better performance from Scotland in our other 2 group game, but I’d be delighted to be proved wrong!
C’mon Scotland!
The Distinct Dot 