Muller hat-trick helps Germany thrash Portugal 4-0
Thomas Muller scored a hat-trick as Germany thrashed 10-man Portugal 4-0 in their opening World Cup game, Goal.com reports.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Paulo Bento's side's chances of getting out of a tough Group G were placed in serious jeopardy as a Thomas Muller-inspired Germany put them to the sword in Salvador on Monday.
Muller - golden boot winner at the 2010 World Cup - continued his superb run at football's showpiece with a hat-trick, taking him to eight goals in seven appearances at the event.
On his 50th Germany appearance, the Bayern Munich man fired his side in front from the penalty spot before Mats Hummels doubled their advantage with a towering 32nd-minute header.
Pepe then tangled with the forward and headbutted him as he sat on the floor, before their woes were compounded by Muller's second on the stroke of half-time.
If Bento thought things could not get worse for his side, he was wrong, as defender Fabio Coentrao was taken off on a stretcher with a suspected groin injury in the second half.
And Muller sealed Germany's big win, capitalising on a Rui Patricio error to tap in with 12 minutes left.
And while the result was a serious statement of intent from Germany - who saw defender Hummels limp off with a late knee injury - Portugal were inexplicably bad, leaving them with an uphill battle to reach the last 16 with games against the USA and Ghana still to come.
Portugal's preparation was largely focused on Ronaldo, who has been plagued by thigh and knee problems in recent months, but he quickly proved his fitness with a sprint and strike at Germany goalkeeper Neuer after Miguel Veloso stripped Philipp Lahm of the ball.
Neuer's opposite number, Patricio, then gave Sami Khedira an excellent chance to open the scoring when he scuffed a horrendous clearance, but the midfielder saw his 40-yard snapshot curl agonisingly wide with the goalkeeper beaten.
Germany did not have to wait long to take the lead though, as Mario Gotze wriggled past Joao Pereira and was hauled down, allowing Muller to fire the resulting spot-kick into the bottom-left corner in the 12th minute.
Almeida limped off just before the half-hour mark, replaced by Eder, and they were soon two down when Hummels rose above Pepe and Bruno Alves to power a header past Patricio from Toni Kroos' outswinging corner.
There were still fleeting moments for Portugal fans to get excited about, as Nani broke well but missed Ronaldo with a pass, before Coentrao, perhaps surprised at finding himself on side, crossed for the talisman instead of shooting in a good position.
But Portugal's hopes quickly unravelled after Pepe's moment of madness.
The centre-back put a hand in the face of Muller as the pair both battled for the ball and the German appeared to make the most of the contact.
But Pepe's decision to push his head into a sitting Muller left referee Milorad Mazic with no choice but to send him off.
And there was still time for Germany to score again as Muller capped a truly miserable half for Bento's men.
Alves' attempted clearance hit Muller in second-half stoppage time, and the ball fell kindly for the forward, who pounced with a predatory left-foot finish that hit Patricio and went in.
Muller nodded over in the second half after an Ozil effort was saved, while at the other end Portugal's plight was summed up when Nani and Coentrao ran into each other inside Germany's penalty area.
Muller then wrapped up the victory, finding himself in the right place to tap in after Patricio spilled a routine cross from substitute Andre Schurrle to seal his treble.
Man of the Match: T Muller (GER)
Match Commentary - as it happened
The referee mercifully brings proceedings to an end. A miserable, miserable day for Portugal, but a marvellous one for Germany, who move into command of Group G with an ominous result. Muller will take the plaudits, but it is Pepe's moment of madness that will grab the headlines from an extremely one-sided affair.
90` + 2` ALMOST A STUNNER FROM RONALDO! Portugal's star man hits a fine free-kick towards goal, but Neuer is equal to it and pulls off a strong save.
90` + 1` Just two minutes added on. Portugal's awful day is nearly over.
88` The one positive for Portugal is that Ronaldo looks set to complete a full 90 minutes. His presence will be imperative if Portgual are to recover and qualify for the knock-out rounds.
86` The final minutes are proving to be little more than a training session for Germany. Full-time cannot come quick enough for Portugal.
84` Germany showing no signs of letting up. Still six minutes for them to further Portugal's pain.
82` Substitution: Thomas Müller out, Lukas Podolski in.
82` Muller comes off to a well-earned standing ovation. Hero to Germany, but very much a villain to the Portuguese fans for his part in Pepe's dismissal.
80` Few would have seen such an emphatic scoreline coming. The German fans are buoyant and for good reason.
78` Goal Thomas Müller
MULLER GETS HIS HAT-TRICK!!! More misery for Portugal. Schurrle's cross-cum-shot from a tight angle is not dealt with by Patricio and Muller is on hand to tap home from point-blank range. He is now the top scorer at the tournament.
77` Boos in the crowd following that decision. It certainly looked as it Portugal had a case, but it just hasn't been their day.
75` Portugal doing more of the pressing as they search for a crumb of comfort. Nani's fierce drive is parried by Neuer, and Portugal then claim penalty as Eder appears to go down under a challenge from Howedes when looking to reach the rebound. The Serbian referee is unmoved, though, and waves away the protests.
73` Substitution: Mats Hummels out, Shkodran Mustafi in.
72` Germany will not to take any chances and Hummels is immediately withdrawn. Shkodran Mustafi coming on in his stead.
71` Now a problem for Germany as Hummels goes down after an aerial challenge with Eder.
69` Mario Gotze has been fantastic all game and almost makes it four, his strike deflected over the bar after he met Schurrle's pull back.
68` Nani finds some space on the edge of the area but his shot is blocked by a German defence that has looked solid all day.
65` Substitution: Fabio Coentrao out, André Almeida in.
65` A very sad sight as a visibly distressed Coentrao is taken from the field on a stretcher. Another lowpoint on a dreadful day for Portugal. Andre Almeida comes on in his place.
63` Substitution: Mesut Özil out, Andre Schürrle in.
63` Oh dear. More bad news for Portugal as Coentrao pulls up when stretching to collect a pass from Moutinho.
62` First substitution for Germany as Ozil leaves the field to be replaced by Andre Schurrle.
60` Ronaldo's disappointing afternoon continues as he free-kick cannons off the wall and out for a throw.
59` Boateng fouls Ronaldo and concedes a free-kick just outside the area.
58` Germany appear to be readying some substitutes. Low can afford to rest players now the points are, barring a miraculous turnaround, in the bag.
56` Portugal showing a little more desire to get forward and make something happen. They haven't given up hope of finidng some sort of consolation.
54` Good work from Eder to chase down a long ball from Coentrao and earn a free-kick. However, the set-piece is easily cleared by Germany.
52` Portugal almost work an opening but Coentrao and Nani get in each others way going for the same ball on the left-hand side. That pretty much sums up Portugal's day.
50` IT WAS ALMOST FOUR! Gotze plays in Ozil with a fine pass, however, his shot is well saved by Patricio and Muller heads over the bar on the follow up.
48` It doesn't take long for Germany to work their way into the Portugal half, however, the play breaks down as Benedikt Howedes is flagged offside.
46` Substitution: Miguel Veloso out, Ricardo Costa in.
Where do Portugal go from here? It has to be a case of damage limitation. Goal difference could play a pivotal role in what has been dubbed 'the group of death' and Bento's team simply cannot afford to let in any more goals in the second half.
Whew! The referee signals for half-time and I have a time to catch my breath. An absolute nightmare half for Portugal. Ronaldo hasn't had a chance to get into the game. Germany have been in complete control and now it is surely a question of how many for Low's side.
45` + 1` Goal Thomas Müller
IT'S THREE!! And that should be that. Bruno Alves fails to clear a cross and the ball falls straight to Muller, who doesn't need a second invitation to double his tally, firing underneath Patricio. Surely game over.
45` Half-time quickly approaching and if ever a team needed a break, it is Portugal. It will take a very big team-talk from Bento to turn this around.
43` The German fans are already bringing out the chants of OLE! This could hardly have gone any better for Low's side.
41` Pepe's dismissal may prove crucial to Portugal's hopes of reaching the last 16. The Real Madrid man will be unavailable for the next two group stage games and how big could that be?
39` Germany's free-kick comes to nothing but this is quickly turning into a disaster for Portugal. How on earth do they recover from this?
37` Red Card Pepe
INSANITY FROM PEPE! The Portugal centre-back appears to push a hand into the face of Thomas Muller. The German goes down theatrically and Pepe then proceeds to run over and push his head into Muller. The referee has no option but to brandish a straight red card.
35` HOW HAS COENTRAO NOT SCORED?! Great play from Joao Moutinho to pick out Fabio Coentrao in the box, the flag stays down but the full-back is caught in two minds over whether to shoot or pass and his eventual weak effort is deflected wide for a corner. Eder heads over from the resulting corner.
34` Nani breaks on the counter as Portugal attempt to try and pull one back, but his pass to find Ronaldo is a poor one and the move breaks down.
32` Assist Toni Kroos
32` Goal Mats Hummels
HUMMELS!! BRILLIANT HEADER!! Portugal have a mountain to climb now. Germany win a corner after Gotze sees a shot deflected wide at the end of a superb attacking move. The resulting corner is an excellent one from Kroos and Borussia Dortmund defender Hummels rises highest to double the lead.
30` Free-kick in a dangerous area swung in by Toni Kroos, but Ronaldo is there to head away and clear the danger.
28` Substitution: Hugo Almeida out, Éder in.
28` Almeida's race is run. The striker limps from the field and is replaced by Sporting Braga forward Eder.
27` Worrying times for Portugal as Almeida is down and in some distress.
25` BUT THEY ALMOST EQUALISE! Nani picks the ball up on the right flank and powers an effort narrowly over the crossbar from the edge of the area.
23` There is only one team threatening to score again at the moment. Portugal are really struggling to get out of their own half and it could be a long afternoon for them if that does not change soon.
21` Low's men still pushing and probing for another opening in a Portuguese defence that has tightened up a bit since the goal.
19` Lots of noise emanating from the fans at Arena Fonte Nova, and it is the German supporters who are enjoying themselves the most at the moment.
17` Germany looking comfortable and patient in possession with Portugal struggling to get hold of the ball. Paulo Bento's men need to get a grip on this game sooner rather than later.
15` Things just settling down a little bit now. It will be interesting to see if the players can keep up this tempo in the heat of Salvador.
13` This one didn't take long to liven up. How do Portugal respond to this? Germany looking well on top.
12` Penalty Goal Thomas Müller
Gotze works his way into the area and is hauled down by Joao Pereira, who is booked. Thomas Muller steps up..... AND SCORES! Perfect low penalty into the bottom corner from the Bayern Munich man on his 50th appearance for Germany. Patricio had no chance.
11` Yellow Card João Pereira
10` PENALTY TO GERMANY!!
8` HUGE CHANCES AT BOTH ENDS!! First Ronaldo is denied at the near-post by Neuer after Philipp Lahm is robbed of the ball by Miguel Veloso. Then at the other end Portugal keeper sends a clearance staright to Sami Khedira, but the Germany midfielder's shot flies narrowly wide of the post.
6` Ronaldo finds space and has a go from way out, unfortunately for Portugal his effort is high, wide and anything but handsome.
4` Portugal still feeling their way into this game, but they create opening as Ronaldo breaks on the counter-attack, the Real Madrid man plays in Hugo Almeida, but his effort is tame and easily saved by Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
2` Good start from Germany. Jerome Boateng gets down the right and delivers a deep cross. Mario Gotze gets his head to it but the ball is cleared away.
1` Pre-match formalities completed.
Substitutes: Eduardo, William, Vieirinha, Eder, Ricardo Costa, Neto, Rafa Silva, Varela, Almeida, Amorim, Beto, Postiga.
Portugal (4-3-3): Patricio; Pereira, Pepe, Alves, Coentrao; Meireles, Veloso, Moutinho; Nani, Almeida, Ronaldo.
Substitutes: Grosskreutz, Ginter, Schweinsteiger, Schurrle, Podolski, Klose, Zieler, Draxler, Durm, Mustafi, Weidenfeller, Kramer.
Germany (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Boateng, Hummels, Mertesacker, Howedes; Lahm, Khedira; Ozil, Kroos, Gotze; Muller.
Commentary & Report: Goal dot com
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