Thomas Muller scored the first hat-trick of the
2014 World Cup as Germany produced a
ruthless attacking display to destroy 10-man
Portugal and open their World Cup campaign
in style.
The 24-year-old, who scored five goals to win the
Golden Boot in South Africa four years ago, took
his World Cup total to eight with a sensational
performance.
The Bayern Munich forward dispatched an early
penalty, drilled home Germany's third and
tapped in a fourth, with centre-back Mats
Hummels heading the second before going off
with a knee injury.
Portugal lost defender Pepe to a needless red
card at 2-0 after he appeared to headbutt
Muller, and Paulo Bento's men could not recover
as Cristiano Ronaldo had little chance to
impress.
The result was wrapped up with plenty of time
to spare, putting Germany in pole position to
dominate Group G and fuelling hopes of a first
World Cup triumph since 1990.
Although Joachim Low's men had won each of
the past three meetings between these sides,
including at the same stage of Euro 2012,
Portugal made the better start, with Ronaldo to
the fore.
The Real Madrid forward was troubled by knee
and thigh problems in the build-up, but showed
no sign of discomfort. His early break set up
Hugo Almeida for a weak shot, before the two-
time Ballon d'Or winner beat Per Mertesacker
and drew an alert save from Manuel Neuer.
Since 2002, Portugal have
had six red cards in 15
World Cup games - twice as
many as any other side.
That scare seemed to spark Germany into life.
Sami Khedira missed an open goal after a poor
clearance by goalkeeper Rui Patricio, but the
opener would soon arrive.
Muller, Mesut Ozil and Mario Gotze were causing
Portugal all manner of problems and, when the
latter was hauled down after forcing his way
past Joao Pereira, referee Milorad Mazic pointed
to the spot. The penalty was tucked into the
bottom corner by Muller.
That settled Germany into a rhythm, executing
their 4-2-1-2-1 formation far better than
Portugal to look solid at the back and capable of
threatening every time they came forward.
Nani drilled a rare Portugal effort narrowly over
the bar, but Gotze almost doubled the lead with
a shot that deflected wide. Then, following Toni
Kroos's resultant corner, Hummels did burnish
the advantage, exploiting Portugal's sloppy zonal
marking to head powerfully past Patricio.
Portugal briefly rallied. Fabio Coentrao
inexplicably tried to cross for Ronaldo when he
should have shot and Eder - on the the injured
Almeida - headed over.
But any hopes they harboured of a comeback
were dashed when Muller fell after what looked
like a flailing arm from Pepe, who reacted by
bending down and nudging his head against
that of the grounded German.
Portugal coach Bento seemed appalled at the
Real Madrid defender's actions, and Portugal's
afternoon deteriorated further when Bruno Alves
struck a clearance straight into the body of
Muller, who reacted sharply to lash a shot under
Patricio.
The contrast on the two benches as the half-
time whistle blew was stark - all smiles and
high-fives among the Germans, bowed heads
and dejection among the Portuguese - and the
interval did little to change things.
The Muller-Ozil-Gotze axis continued to wreak
havoc and they combined again as Gotze slipped
Ozil though, but the Arsenal playmaker was
denied by Patricio and Muller headed the
rebound over.
Ozil's disappointment at being replaced by
Chelsea's Andre Schurrle epitomised how much
Germany were enjoying the game, and Gotze
went close again after a stunning counter-attack
involving Muller and Schurrle.
The only downside for Low's side was a knee
injury to Hummels but Portugal had plenty to
ponder, not least the irate Ronaldo, who was
furious not to earn a penalty for Benedikt
Hoewedes's challenge on Eder.
Their day would get worse still, though, when
Muller completed the rout after Schurrle's drive
was repelled. It was the first time Portugal had
conceded four goals in a World Cup match.
Ronaldo almost had the final word with a
blistering free-kick, but Neuer proved his equal.
SOURCE - BBCSport
2014 World Cup as Germany produced a
ruthless attacking display to destroy 10-man
Portugal and open their World Cup campaign
in style.
The 24-year-old, who scored five goals to win the
Golden Boot in South Africa four years ago, took
his World Cup total to eight with a sensational
performance.
The Bayern Munich forward dispatched an early
penalty, drilled home Germany's third and
tapped in a fourth, with centre-back Mats
Hummels heading the second before going off
with a knee injury.
Portugal lost defender Pepe to a needless red
card at 2-0 after he appeared to headbutt
Muller, and Paulo Bento's men could not recover
as Cristiano Ronaldo had little chance to
impress.
The result was wrapped up with plenty of time
to spare, putting Germany in pole position to
dominate Group G and fuelling hopes of a first
World Cup triumph since 1990.
Although Joachim Low's men had won each of
the past three meetings between these sides,
including at the same stage of Euro 2012,
Portugal made the better start, with Ronaldo to
the fore.
The Real Madrid forward was troubled by knee
and thigh problems in the build-up, but showed
no sign of discomfort. His early break set up
Hugo Almeida for a weak shot, before the two-
time Ballon d'Or winner beat Per Mertesacker
and drew an alert save from Manuel Neuer.
Since 2002, Portugal have
had six red cards in 15
World Cup games - twice as
many as any other side.
That scare seemed to spark Germany into life.
Sami Khedira missed an open goal after a poor
clearance by goalkeeper Rui Patricio, but the
opener would soon arrive.
Muller, Mesut Ozil and Mario Gotze were causing
Portugal all manner of problems and, when the
latter was hauled down after forcing his way
past Joao Pereira, referee Milorad Mazic pointed
to the spot. The penalty was tucked into the
bottom corner by Muller.
That settled Germany into a rhythm, executing
their 4-2-1-2-1 formation far better than
Portugal to look solid at the back and capable of
threatening every time they came forward.
Nani drilled a rare Portugal effort narrowly over
the bar, but Gotze almost doubled the lead with
a shot that deflected wide. Then, following Toni
Kroos's resultant corner, Hummels did burnish
the advantage, exploiting Portugal's sloppy zonal
marking to head powerfully past Patricio.
Portugal briefly rallied. Fabio Coentrao
inexplicably tried to cross for Ronaldo when he
should have shot and Eder - on the the injured
Almeida - headed over.
But any hopes they harboured of a comeback
were dashed when Muller fell after what looked
like a flailing arm from Pepe, who reacted by
bending down and nudging his head against
that of the grounded German.
Portugal coach Bento seemed appalled at the
Real Madrid defender's actions, and Portugal's
afternoon deteriorated further when Bruno Alves
struck a clearance straight into the body of
Muller, who reacted sharply to lash a shot under
Patricio.
The contrast on the two benches as the half-
time whistle blew was stark - all smiles and
high-fives among the Germans, bowed heads
and dejection among the Portuguese - and the
interval did little to change things.
The Muller-Ozil-Gotze axis continued to wreak
havoc and they combined again as Gotze slipped
Ozil though, but the Arsenal playmaker was
denied by Patricio and Muller headed the
rebound over.
Ozil's disappointment at being replaced by
Chelsea's Andre Schurrle epitomised how much
Germany were enjoying the game, and Gotze
went close again after a stunning counter-attack
involving Muller and Schurrle.
The only downside for Low's side was a knee
injury to Hummels but Portugal had plenty to
ponder, not least the irate Ronaldo, who was
furious not to earn a penalty for Benedikt
Hoewedes's challenge on Eder.
Their day would get worse still, though, when
Muller completed the rout after Schurrle's drive
was repelled. It was the first time Portugal had
conceded four goals in a World Cup match.
Ronaldo almost had the final word with a
blistering free-kick, but Neuer proved his equal.
SOURCE - BBCSport
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