Andy Robertson stated that the strategy employed by Germany was vastly superior following Scotland’s humbling defeat.

Scotland suffered a humiliating defeat in their Euro 2024 debut against Germany, leaving captain Andy Robertson frustrated and admitting that their opponents’ plan worked far better than theirs. The tournament hosts dominated the game, securing a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Scotland, who failed to register a single shot on goal.

For the Tartan Army, who are aiming to progress to the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time, this was a rude awakening. Robertson acknowledged that significant improvements need to be made quickly, with matches against Switzerland and Hungary still to come in Group A.

Reflecting on the match, Robertson stated, “In the first half, we got it all wrong. We didn’t show up, and their game-plan worked a million times better than ours did. In the second half, down to 10 men, I thought we dug in well. It’s hugely disappointing, especially with the tremendous support we have here.”

Meanwhile, England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has urged his team to embrace the tag of Euro 2024 favorites and enjoy the pressure that comes with it. England, who are among the tournament favorites, will be looking to make a strong statement in their opening match against Croatia.

Germany’s victory over Scotland was not only their biggest ever at a European Championship, but also the largest victory by a host nation in a tournament opener. Goals from Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala gave the hosts a dream start in Munich, before a red card for Scotland’s Ryan Porteous allowed Kai Havertz to convert a penalty and extend Germany’s lead.

Subsequent strikes from substitutes Niclas Fullkrug and Emre Can, along with an own goal from Antonio Rudiger, compounded Scotland’s misery. The result was a bitter disappointment for the Scottish fans, who had traveled in large numbers to support their team in their first overseas major tournament since the 1998 World Cup.

Manager Steve Clarke had a message for the supporters after the game, urging them to “keep the faith” and assuring them that the team will bounce back. Clarke acknowledged that the game quickly got away from them and that it was always going to be a difficult night after the third goal and the red card.

Despite the disappointment, Clarke expressed his belief in his players and their ability to perform better in the upcoming matches. He emphasized the need to move on from the defeat, analyze the game, and focus on securing four points from the next two games.

Overall, it was a night to forget for Scotland, but they will be hoping to regroup and show their true potential in the remaining matches of the group stage.