Scotland’s Euro 2024 campaign got off to a desperate start as they were thumped 5-1 by host nation Germany in Munich.
It was a night to forget for head coach Steve Clarke and his players, who struggled right from the off to compete with the Germans, who raced into a 2-0 lead by the 20-minute mark. The team will need a complete reset for their next Group A match against Switzerland on Wednesday after optimism ahead of the tournament opener before taking on Hungary in Stuttgart. They have to quickly get this performance and result out of their heads while the Tartan Army will also have to regroup.
We give each Scotland player involved in the match a mark out of ten for their performance in Bavaria - and unsurprisingly, there are some grim ratings.
9. John McGinn - 4
Cap number 67 for Scotland’s revered midfielder. This really wasn’t his night, though, part of a midfield that not even his drive and energy could salvage. Truth be told, McGinn looked a little jaded here, a bit diminished, perhaps still feeling the effects of a gruelling club season with Aston Villa. Germany walked right over him, swatting him away like a pesky wasp. Unable to get on the ball and drive forward, it was no surprise to see him replaced when 3-0 down for Kenny McLean. One hopes that he will rediscover his mojo for the matches against Switzerland and Hungary – this Scotland team needs McGinn close to 100 per cent. | Getty Images
10. Andy Robertson - 5
A proud night – at the beginning, anyway – for the Liverpool left-back as he was captaining Scotland for the 50th time in his career. That’s where the upsides end. Robertson did not play particularly well, in keeping with the Scottish malaise. He was caught too narrow for Germany’s opening goal when a raking cross-field ball found Germany in space on his flank. After that it was a case of battling, scrapping against a fierce tide. Did have one or two moments going forward and did sling in the cross for Scotland’s consolation goal, which was the only positive on a depressing night for the national team. Never stopped trying. | Getty Images
11. Che Adams - 4
The Southampton striker ended the domestic season by earning promotion back to the English Premier League and while Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland started the two warm-up matches, Adams was always likely to get the nod due to his tireless work-rate. However, Scotland could have deployed Kylian Mbappe in attack and it would have made no difference. Adams was completely starved of service and did not get a sniff off the ball up against two monstrous defenders in Antonio Rudiger and Jonathan Tah. Was taken off at the break for Grant Hanley, presumably to keep him fresh for the upcoming matches. | Getty Images
12. The substitutes
Grant Hanley (4) came on at the break as Scotland tried to make it a damage-limitation exercise. He was unable to improve matters at a time when the Scots were a man down. Billy Gilmour (3) and Kenny McLean (3) were both brought on in the final third of the match but their impact - understandably - was limited. Scott McKenna (4, pictured above) made an appearance on 77 minutes and helped fashion Antonio Rudiger's own goal. Lawrence Shankland (n/a) got a couple of minutes at the end in attack. | PA