Euro 2024: Julian Nagelsmann pleased with Germany's reaction to conceding late goal in win over Scotland
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Published 14/06/2024 at 23:42 GMT+1
Julian Nagelsmann got off to a winning start to Euro 2024, as Germany dismantled Scotland 5-1 at the Allianz Arena. But it was the reaction of his players when Antonio Rudiger conceded a late own goal that impressed him as much as their lightning-fast start. The former Bayern Munich boss admitted he was surprised by the lack of aggression shown by the opposition, a view shared by Roy Keane.
Nagelsmann reveals how he talked 'incredible player' Kroos into Germany return
Video credit: SNTV
Julian Nagelsmann even took positives from Germany conceding, as his side romped to a stunning 5-1 win over Scotland in the curtain raiser of Euro 2024.
Germany did not wilt under the pressure of hosting Euro 2024’s opening match in Munich, as Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and a Kai Havertz penalty put them 3-0 up by half-time.
Watford centre back Ryan Porteous was shown a red card for a two-footed challenge on Ilkay Gundogan to give away a penalty, before Niclas Fullkrug slammed in a fourth.
Emre Can cut short Scotland’s celebrations following Antonio Rudiger’s late own goal and Nagelsmann was pleased to see his players unhappy about the concession.
“The signs from our players were brilliant,” Nagelsmann told ITV. “They complained about the situation and do not want to concede a goal. So it’s a good sign that you’re still hungry when you’re 4-0 in the lead.
“I’m happy. I’m satisfied. It’s not that easy to have the first game in your home country. We looked back at the first games of the last tournaments that weren’t that good, so in the end we had a kind of pressure.”
The stunning 5-1 win broke the record for the biggest win by a host at a European Championship, as well as the largest margin of victory for any side in the opening match of the tournament.
Crucial to the hosts’ victory was their lightning-fast start, according to the former Bayern Munich manager.
Wirtz put Germany ahead from a cutback in the 10th minute, and Musiala’s thunderbolt made it 2-0 in the 19th.
Nagelsmann said: “The first 15 minutes were very good. Since then, Scotland were surprised, kind of afraid. I was happy with the performance and then we stayed focused in the whole game.
“But especially in the first 20 minutes we did brilliant: good ball possession, good counter pressing, very good aggression.”
Asked if he expected the match to be as straightforward as it turned out to be, Nagelsmann shared Roy Keane’s view on Scotland’s resistance.
“I was kind of surprised that Scotland were not that aggressive in the first 20 minutes. I think they were surprised by our ball possession; it was really concentrated,” said Nagelsmann
“They felt that we had a lot of players in offence that can score goals and then they defend a bit deeper.
“They didn’t make the high press like they did sometimes in the qualifying games.”
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