Former Scotland striker Kris Boyd labelled his nation’s efficiency “embarrassing” nearest their 5-1 hammering by the hands of Germany within the Euro 2024 curtain raiser.
Scotland had been at all times up in opposition to it in opposition to the Eu Championship hosts, who got here into the event at the again of pleasant wins over France and the Netherlands.
Even so, lax protecting and needy ball retention noticed Steve Clarke’s facet 2-0 ailing within 20 mins, with a 3rd netted prior to the split from a Kai Havertz penalty as soon as Ryan Porteous were despatched off for a rash problem on Ilkay Gungodan.
Scotland restored some pleasure nearest half-time and would have drawn the second one 45 mins 1-1 prior to Emre Can netted an injury-time 5th, however the harm was once long-since carried out.
“They were embarrassing,” Boyd advised Sky Sports activities Information. “They deserve huge credit score for buying there however we will be able to’t stock attending to competitions and frigid. That’s precisely what took place.
“Germany had been excellent, however on the finish of the occasion you’ve were given to trace your runners, you’ve were given to stick with them and display extra self assurance at the ball while you get it.
“I’d be astonished if Scotland had any more than 10 passes put together in any phase of play. At this level, if you’re going to get anything, that’s one thing you need to do.”
Jamal Musiala was once named participant of the fit because the Germany midfielder inspired at the global degree once more, era Florian Wirtz capped his personal event debut with a tremendous opening objective, with Gundogan pulling the fables in midfield.
However Boyd felt Germany’s trait was once allowed to gleam via Scotland’s static protecting and mentioned Clarke’s facet will have to utility the chastening defeat as a lesson forward of dealing with Switzerland in Cologne on Wednesday.
“Scotland really struggled with the movement of the front players of Germany, albeit they were quality, and they switched off at key moments,” he mentioned.
“It’s been a bad night but there’s no doubt these players have given the feel-good factor back to the country and hopefully they can bounce back in the next two games, but it’s going to be very, very tough.
“Switzerland and Hungary aren’t taking to be simple video games. You’ve were given to erase this end result, it’s carried out now and you’ll be able to’t have an effect on it now. What you’ll be able to do is travel and take a look at the later two video games and aim and reason issues in them.
“Steve Clarke might be angry in himself but I don’t think he can take it out on the players because you don’t want to lose them, you need to ask them to go again on Wednesday.”
Clarke: We let ourselves ailing
Supervisor Clarke, whose facet have handiest overwhelmed Gibraltar of their closing 9 video games, instructed the Tartan Military to “keep the faith” in spite of the dispiriting opening defeat, nearest a lot of enthusiasts left the Allianz Area lengthy prior to the full-time whistle.
“It was a difficult night,” he admitted. “We didn’t play to our standard and I thought the German team were excellent.
“We’re dissatisfied, we really feel as regardless that we’ve let ourselves ailing. We’re higher than that and with a bit of luck we will be able to display that within the later two video games.
“This was always going to be a tough night to get something. We need four points from the next two games and that’s what we focus on.
Asked if it was his toughest night as Scotland manager, he added: “Deny, I’ve had tricky nights prior to. I’ll recover from it.
“I’ve never ever doubted my players.”
Robertson: First 1/2 was once ‘all flawed’
Ryan Porteous was once despatched off in a while prior to half-time for his follow-through on Ilkay Gundogan
Captain Andy Robertson mentioned Germany’s first-half efficiency labored “a million times better” than Scotland’s throughout their painful drubbing in Munich.
“First half we got it all wrong,” the Liverpool defender advised ITV. “We didn’t really show up, weren’t aggressive enough. Let good players on the ball.
“That they had a recreation plan, we did, and theirs labored one million occasions higher than ours.
“But it wasn’t because of the plan, it’s because we didn’t put it together on the pitch. When big occasions come like this, you have to do that.
“2nd 1/2, ailing to ten males, I assumed we dug in smartly. We misplaced a sloppy objective overdue on, however lets’ve drawn the second one 1/2.
“It’s no consolation, though, we’re well backed over here. Today was hugely disappointing.”