John McGinn fronted up for Scotland’s demoralising Euro 2024 opening defeat by conceding that his side allowed a ruthless German team to get comfortable during their 5-1 loss - admitting the group feel they’ve burst the Tartan Army’s bubble.

Steve Clarke’s side were never close to the host nation who put in their best performance of the Julian Nagelsmann era. However, those levels were in stark contrast to Scotland’s who made life all the more difficult by performing well below expectation.

While Clarke’s side were never favourites to get a result at the Allianz Arena it was the manner of their performance that warranted heavy criticism, with no shots on goal attempted all night and a barrage of pressure in the other direction. 

Progression is still very much possible from Group A with matches against Switzerland and Hungary to come next week but McGinn is well aware the first step he and his teammates must make is internal to have any hopes of making this Euros adventure a memorable one.

“The aim was to get at least a point but from our point of view, we need to find over the next couple of days our levels again,” he said.

“You can talk about everything but there are a lot of us in there who need to up it and we know that. Wednesday is another opportunity to do that, we need to get the balance of analysing what went wrong and proving it against Switzerland.

“[Heavy defeats] are part of the game. It still hurts in the same way as when you lost like that with St Mirren. It still hurts and your pride is dented. You see our massive support and the optimism in the country and feel like you’ve burst the bubble a wee bit. But we know we’ve still got an opportunity to get through this group.

“From our point of view, we definitely need to do more. We gave everything we could but did we allow [Germany] to be too comfortable? Probably. We let them get their feet under the carpet and get used to doing what they do best. We need to up it, we know that and have levels to go up. That’s the only positive thing from tonight.

“The goals we conceded weren’t great at all, when Ryan [Porteous] gets sent off it becomes much tougher. Thankfully we have time now and an extra day to analyse it, understand where we went wrong and improve. I think Wednesday will be a completely different game but they [Switzerland] are a top team as well. As players, we need to massively raise our levels."

Scotland never settled on the big occasion in Munich, kicking off their first major tournament abroad as a collective. Germany were 2-0 up before the 20-minute mark and when Porteous saw red for a horror tackle on Ilkay Gundogan Clarke's side were forced to start the second period a man down and three goals behind.

Did Scotland freeze on the big occasion, unable to demonstrate their usual resolve and grit? Assessing that claim, McGinn took the focus off of individuals and a defence which conceded five goals on the night. For an inability to keep the ball out of their own net Scotland were also unable to access the German final third, lacking attempts on goal or any subduing of pressure on their goal.

“I don’t think the occasion played a part,” he added.

“I felt really calm going into the game and we prepared well, it’s nothing to do with that. It’s about when you cross the white line making sure they know they are in a game and I don’t think we did that. Personally and collectively we have got to look at that.

“We’ve had enough experience in these type of games to know that is not the way to play them, unfortunately tonight was another one of those nights. I think we managed the occasion fine. The goal they scored early on is what you try to avoid in any game but unfortunately we lost it.

“It’s easy to say that we’ve conceded a lot recently but myself and others are on a massive goal drought and it works both ways. Collectively you can’t point a finger at one or two. As a group we need to improve and concede fewer chances. I don’t think we had a shot tonight which is the worrying thing.

“We know we can compete against these teams, we went toe-to-toe against Spain. We haven’t been on the end of that score line for a long time so now. We’ve had bumps along the road and it’s now up to the older ones [in the group] to keep us going and get us right for Wednesday.

Scotland now have an extra day of recovery before travelling to Cologne to face Switzerland in midweek. It’s a game which offers an opportunity of fresh beginnings and McGinn insists the shock of defeat to Germany won’t linger in the group.

“Germany have a team of top players who were really good. They will be a massive threat in the group and hopefully can play like that against Switzerland and Hungary,” he added.

“Now we need to put our full focus on Wednesday. You can talk all you like but it’s about getting back to where we can be. If you allow [a defeat] to dwell it can have an effect on the two games.”