Once Upon a Time Germany v Scotland Group A

Group A: Germany 5:1 Scotland, Munich.

If you are German, that was a sweet opening chapter to the Sommermärchen (summer fairy tale), the buzz word Euro 2024 has taught us. "O ist so schön" (Oh it's so beautiful) sang the fans in the Allianz Arena.

Five goals (six if you count Antonio Rüdiger's own goal header) is more than a healthy start to a cup run at home.

It is important for a host nation to start well for the good of the tournament, although Germany's cakewalk against a really poor Scotland perhaps did not tell us too much about the Mannschaft's chances of lifting the trophy.

We saw how tactically aware Germany were, exploiting Scotland's narrow back four with a four to five-man attack spread across the park, but it is hard to see the likes of France or England playing so naively as the Scots did tonight, leaving clear gaps between the lines and ball-watching for the German goals.

Julian Nagelsmann reminded us that gegenpressing is a German word, effectively stopping the Scots from getting out of their own half. Their passing was sharper and they won the second balls. Marooned in their own half, Scotland ended up lashing aimless balls upfield and flying in with rash tackles.

We saw Toni Kroos orchestrate, Jamal Musiala glide effortlessly around the Scottish defence and score, a cut above his World Cup cameos, Florian Wirtz his young partner in crime net as well, while Niklas Füllkrug's clincher was Roy of the Rovers stuff.

Stiffer tests for Germany await in Group A while Scotland can wake up and forget this opening nightmare and try again against the Swiss and Hungarians.