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Group A: Germany 5 - Scotland 1
Much of the build up to this tournament for Germany has been about Toni Kroos returning to the national team for a swan song, and the opening match of the tournament felt more like a testimonial than a competitive fixture.
Kroos was given complete control of the game, with little harrying from Scotland's central midfield duo of Callum McGregor and Scott McTominay. He completed 99 percent of his 102 pass attempts, mostly operating as a ball moving left center back with the way Julian Nagelsmann has Germany set up in possession. His passes were rarely penetrative but provided good flow to Germany's attack, constantly getting the ball moving down the left hand side of the pitch.
An opening goal in the 10th minute all but killed Scotland's hopes of gnawing out a point in a turgid affair. Scotland was never able to instill any doubts in the hosts, who played open and free for the entire 90 minutes. Kai Havertz, whom Nagelsmann briefly converted to a left back during his initial games in charge, led the German line and provided his typical blend of smart movement, timely runs and tight touches in the box.
Speaking of tight touches in the box, the host's first two goals in this game were the result of some exquisite finishes from its burgeoning young stars. Germany's ambitions of winning this tournament for a record fourth time rest on the feet of its delightful pair of 21-year-old attacks Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala. Both started off this tournament in fine form, scoring goals in the opening 20 minutes. Musiala was fantastic with his dribble and Wirtz with his one-touch combination play, acting as interchangeable playmakers who could operate on opposite sides of the pitch or within the same sector simultaneously.
Who plays next to Kroos in central midfield in the bigger matches is perhaps Nagelsmann's biggest lingering question. Bayer Leverkusen's destroyer Robert Andrich played the first half and Brighton's playmaker Pascal Gross played the second half. The context of the matchup will likely dictate the selection, but Gross as a sub and Andrich as a workhorse recovering the ball for Kroos seems like the most logical option against tougher competition.
Scotland's chances of getting out of the group never relied on the result of this matchup, but they could have had a more confidence-inspiring performance than letting in five goals in the opener (this while only attempting one shot, which led to an own goal). I think if the Scots have any chance of advancing, Billy Gilmour will have to start in midfield alongside McTominay in their all-important match against Switzerland on Match Day 2.
