von 
June 14 2024: Scotland 1 – Germany 5
Why did it go so disastrously wrong for Scotland against Germany?
From the opening minutes the Scots backed off, allowing the Germans to dominate the midfield. Rather than trying to close the German midfield down, by getting closer to their opponents, by tighter man-marking, by pressing and fore-checking, the Scots accepted they were forced on to the defensive, surrendered ground and ended up on the back-foot from the outset. The Germans then swarmed forward with accurate passing, building up rhythm and momentum. The first two goals were clean strikes, without any intervention or blocking from Scotland. When the Scots did resort to desperate physical defence, they paid the penalty with Porteous’s clumsy tackle on Gündogan. With only ten men against a rampant Germany, the game was virtually a foregone conclusion by half-time.
On this form, Germany may well go on to win the EUROS 2024.
©VV
June 15, 2024: Why were the Highland Games a sad reflection of Scottish identity?
Saturday June 15 saw the Miller Clan from Oberperfuss offer the Highland Games.
Kilts and bagpipes, yes, and even tossing the caber, albeit shorter and lighter for Tyroleans. We see the full-length tree-trunk caber at Highland Games in Scotland. But boot-hurling, egg-throwing and barrel-rolling? These activities are unheard of in Scotland. What we saw was perhaps entertaining, but was a travesty in terms of authentic Highland Games.
Our local supermarket in Inzing (unnamed!) is currently selling ‘Starkenberg Tiroler Whiskey’. I am glad the word is spelt with an ‘e’, to differentiate it from the authentic Scottish product.
Scottish football fans are said to depend on ‘liquid optimism’. After Scotland’s sad defeat in the opening game of the EUROS, perhaps it’s no wonder that ‘uisge beatha’, ‘aqua vitae’, the ‘water-of-life’, is a consolation.
Andrew Milne-Skinner (that Tyrolean Scot and Scottish Tyrolean)
The Highland Games in INzing may not have been very authentic (the first thing I noted was the much smaller size of the cabers), but it was a good show and very entertaining and as such enjoyed by a good crowd. Moreover, it was a nice reminder of dress and show of other nations and as such a nice complement to the local Schützen in their brightly coloured gear.