Scotland’s optimism leading up to their Euro 2024 opener against Germany quickly turned into a nightmare as Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala tore through their defense. The Scottish fans, who had paid a hefty price to be in Munich, were left mortified and wishing they were anywhere else. Wirtz and Musiala took advantage of their hesitant marker, Anthony Ralston, and ran circles around the Scotland defenders. Ralston, who struggled to make an impact for Celtic, was asked to defend against two of the most talented 21-year-olds in European football, and it was clear he was outmatched. The German duo continued to wreak havoc on both wings, scoring three more goals and leaving Scotland in a state of damage limitation.
It’s important to note that Wirtz had been exceptional in the Bundesliga, scoring 18 goals and providing 19 assists for Bayer Leverkusen. On the other hand, Ralston had only started six league games for Celtic last season. The contrast in their abilities was evident, and it was Wirtz who struck the first blow against Scotland.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t just Ralston who struggled in the match. The senior players who had been instrumental in getting Scotland to this point failed to make an impact. John McGinn, who had been impressive throughout the journey to Germany, was a non-factor in this game. Callum McGregor and Scott McTominay were bystanders, and Angus Gunn was lackluster in goal. Some may question Steve Clarke’s decision to leave Billy Gilmour on the bench, but it’s unlikely that Gilmour could have made a significant difference given the overall poor performance of the team.
Clarke now faces a monumental task of turning things around. This dismal performance is not an isolated incident but rather a continuation of Scotland’s recent shortcomings. With a goal difference of minus four, their chances of progressing in the tournament seem bleak. They will need to regroup and find a way to bounce back against Switzerland, but it won’t be an easy task. The feel-good atmosphere surrounding the team has dissipated, and they now find themselves in a siege mentality.
As Scotland reflects on their Munich mauling, they must acknowledge that they have nowhere else to go but to rally together and fight back. Their campaign is far from over, and they must prove that they are not a bad team overnight. However, the hangover from this defeat will determine their future success. Scotland’s journey continues, but they face an uphill battle to salvage their Euro 2024 hopes.