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Scotland have suffered a horror start at Euro 2024 with a 5-1 thumping by Germany in the tournament’s opening match.

They had a big hill to climb from early on after an opener from Florian Wirtz in the 10th minute was followed by a second from Jamal Musiala.

Musiala, who had a great opening match, slammed the ball into the roof of the net to significantly dampen the spirits of the Tartan Army.

It went from bad to worse when Ryan Porteous was sent off for fouling Ilkay Gundogan in the box just before half-time – with Arsenal’s Kai Havertz converting the penalty.

Germany's Jamal Musiala scores his second goal
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Jamal Musiala scored a cracking second goal for Germany

Scotland's Ryan Porteous was sent off for fouling Germany's Ilkay Gundogan.
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Scotland’s Ryan Porteous was sent off for fouling Ilkay Gundogan

Manchester United legend Roy Keane savaged Scotland as being “out of their depth”, saying “the difference in quality was chalk and cheese”.

“Robertson said Scotland weren’t aggressive enough – you have to be aggressive in a game of football,” said Keane on ITV.

“When you’re up against opposition who are much stronger than you, being aggressive is part of being a footballer.”

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Germany were equally dominant after the break and Niclas Fullkrug added another to make it 4-0.

There was a sliver of consolation as an Antonio Rudiger own goal in the 87th minute gave Scotland fans a brief moment of celebration.

However, Emre Can struck in stoppage time to make it 5-1 – the worst opening match defeat ever in the Euros.

Read more:
Scots party in Munich ahead of Euro 2024 opener

Quality of Scottish football exposed


Rob Harris

Rob Harris

Sports correspondent

@RobHarris

A brutal reality check for Scotland.

A 5-1 thumping by Germany isn’t terminal for their hopes of making it into the Euro 2024 knockout phase.

Even just winning one of their remaining Group A games against Switzerland or Hungary could be enough to stay in Germany – but the quality of Scottish football was exposed by the hosts.

You could see in Munich why Scotland’s squad is valued at £175m and Germany’s would cost £700m to assemble, according to the player valuation trackers at Transfermarkt.

Maybe holding out for 10 minutes before conceding was the only surprise.

The Scots were suffocated from the start by a Germany side enjoying the benefits of home comforts in Munich.

The visiting defence just couldn’t cope before Florian Wirtz’s opener and goalkeeper Angus Gunn couldn’t stop the power of Jamal Musiala’s strike after 19 minutes.

There was one VAR penalty reprieve, but not another when Ryan Porteous was sent off for a lunging tackle. How did he think he could get away with that with VAR?

At least there was clarity in the stadium with decisions explained in details on screens for the first time at a major tournament.

That was one frustration for fans removed. But this was the most frustrating of nights for Scotland.

The penalty conceded by Porteous was converted by Kai Havertz leaving a 3-0 deficit at half-time.

The only comfort for Scotland was limiting the damage in the second half to two goals.

Scotland also managed to score the first time in the opening game at a Euros thanks to Antonio Rudiger deflecting Scott McKenna’s header into his own goal.

But in the game’s dying moments even that consolation was snatched away as a rampant German side made it 5-1.

So one good omen, perhaps? Two games to find their way out of the group stage.

It was an error-strewn showing for Scotland, who will have to vastly improve in the next matches against Hungary and Switzerland.

Captain Andy Roberts called it “hugely disappointing” and admitted the team “didn’t really show up”.

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Fans still positive as Germany crush Scotland

He said they could be angry tomorrow but must “bounce back quickly” for Wednesday’s match.

“We have to dust ourselves down, we’ve got five days to sort ourselves out and go again against Switzerland,” said Robertson.

Sombre-looking manager Steve Clarke said the players were poor both with and without the ball.

Kieran Tierney and Jack Hendry looked dejected after the thrashing. Pic: Reuters
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Kieran Tierney and Jack Hendry looked dejected after the thrashing. Pic: Reuters

But he said “what we need to do is still in front of us”.

Ally McCoist praised fantastic strikes by Germany’s Fulkrug and Musiala – and said Scotland needed “more belief” if they are to get anywhere in the competition.

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UK

Man accused of driving into crowds at Liverpool victory parade faces further 24 charges

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Man accused of driving into crowds at Liverpool victory parade faces further 24 charges

A man accused of driving into crowds at Liverpool FC’s title parade faces 24 new charges.

More than 130 people, including children, were injured when Paul Doyle allegedly drove his Ford Galaxy vehicle into hordes of fans at the celebrations on 26 May.

The 53-year-old, of Croxteth, Liverpool, was originally charged with two counts of wounding with intent, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, and one count of dangerous driving.

Six of the new alleged offences relate to babies, including one six-month-old and one seven-month-old, proceedings at Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday.

The new indictment, which was not read out in court, now has 31 counts relating to 29 victims, aged between six months and 77 years old.

Doyle now faces 18 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of wounding with intent, one count of dangerous driving and one count of affray.

He appeared in court via video link from prison and was in tears.

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He did not enter any pleas during the hearing, which lasted around 20 minutes.

The case was adjourned until 4 September, when Doyle is expected to enter pleas.

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UK

Mosquito bite warning after rise in chikungunya cases in travellers returning to UK

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Mosquito bite warning after rise in chikungunya cases in travellers returning to UK

Travellers are being warned about mosquito bites on holiday after a rise in chikungunya infections in people returning to the UK.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also said the first cases of the emerging oropouche virus had been recorded.

Chikungunya typically causes sudden fever and joint pain, which can be debilitating, and lasts from a few days to weeks.

The name comes from a word in a Tanzanian language meaning “that which bends up”, owing to the joint pain associated with it.

Most people recover but in some cases the symptoms can last several months or even years.

It’s spread by mosquito bites in tropical and subtropical regions, and most of the 73 cases reported in the UK so far this year were in London and linked to travel to Sri Lanka, India, and Mauritius.

Only 27 cases were reported in the same January to June period last year.

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Chikungunya can’t spread directly from person to person – so if someone becomes ill in the UK, they can’t pass the infection on, and the mosquitos responsible aren’t present here.

Dr Philip Veal, consultant in public health at the UKHSA, said it can be a “nasty disease” and the increase in cases was “worrying”.

“It is essential to take precautions against mosquito bites when travelling,” he said.

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“Simple steps, such as using insect repellent, covering up your skin and sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets can greatly reduce the risk.”

Chikungunya is mainly found in Asia and Africa, but cases have been reported in Europe and North America this year.

Two vaccines to guard against the infection are available in the UK from private travel clinics.

The first cases of the Oropouche virus have also been confirmed in Britain, according to the UKHSA.

It’s spread by midge and mosquito bites and the three cases are all linked to travel to Brazil.

Oropouche was first identified in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1950s and had been mainly confined to the Amazon area.

However, cases have been increasing since 2023 and have shown up in places such as the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Peru.

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Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea and vomiting.

Anyone who gets such symptoms after being in Central and South America or the Caribbean is advised to get urgent medical advice.

Most people recover on their own, but it can cause severe disease in the very elderly or those with a weak immune system.

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UK

Man staying at hotel that has been focus of protests denies sexual assault charge

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Man staying at hotel that has been focus of protests denies sexual assault charge

A man staying at a hotel that has been the focus of a series of protests has denied a charge of sexual assault and faces a trial next month.

Mohammed Sharwarq, a 32-year-old Syrian national, was arrested after police were called to the Bell Hotel on the Epping High Road in Essex yesterday, police said.

Sharwarq, who is alleged to have kissed a man on the neck, indicated a plea of not guilty to a charge of sexual assault at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court today.

He indicated guilty pleas to six further charges concerning four complainants – with two counts of common assault and four of assault by beating.

Sharwarq is alleged to have punched a man in the face, thrown an object at a man, slapped a third man in the face and attempted to punch a fourth.

Sky News understands the alleged offences took place inside the hotel between 25 July and 12 August.

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District judge Lynette Woodrow remanded Sharwarq, who was assisted in court by an Arabic interpreter, in custody until his trial on 30 September.

The arrest followed weeks of protests outside the hotel.

Neil Hudson, the Conservative MP for Epping Forest, said last month that the protests were a crisis that “risks boiling over”.

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