Germany 4-0 Portugal: Thomas Muller scores hat-trick as Pepe is sent-off for butt and Cristiano Ronaldo cuts frustrated figure/ Alemanha vence a seleção portuguesa
- Muller put Germany 1-0 up from penalty spot
- Mats Hummels made it two with a header from a corner
- Pepe was sent off for butting Muller on the ground following an altercation
- Muller made it three with a snapshot from inside the area
- Forward completed his hat-trick from close range in second half
GER vs POR Match Zone
Cristiano Ronaldo was an isolated figure, and here is his heat map
Another spell-binding afternoon to further light up this thrill-a-minute World Cup. In the end, though, it is hard to conclude that this one taught us much we didn’t already know.
Germany remain the consummate tournament team. When weren’t they? This was their seventh consecutive victory in opening matches at the World Cup. On five of those occasions they have scored four goals. Really, we should not be surprised.
Portugal, meanwhile, are a skittish collection of individuals. Some are talented and some really are not. It was ever thus.
At the heart of their ordinary defence is Real Madrid’s thuggish Pepe. Sent off here, we may not see him again this tournament and we shall not miss him.
VIDEO Scroll down to see Ronaldo talking about his fitness before the match
Winning with style: The German team come together to celebrate the hat-trick by Thomas Muller (left)
Poaching: Muller turns the ball in from three yards to complete his hat-trick
Net gains: MUller goes to ground as the ball trickles past Eduardo in the Portugal goal
Match Facts
Germany: Neuer 6; Boateng 6, Mertesacker 6, Hummels 7 (Mustafi 73min, 6), Howedes 6, Lahm 7; Khedira 7.5, Kroos 6; Muller 8 (Podolski 80), Ozil 5.5 (Schurrle 63, 6.5), Gotze 7.
Subs: Zieler, Grosskreutz, Ginter, Schweinsteiger, Klose, Draxler, Durm, Kramer, Weidenfeller.
Goals: Muller 12 (pen), 45, 78, Hummels 32
Portugal: Patricio 5.5; Pereira 5, Alves 5, Pepe 2, Coentrao 4.5 (A Almeida 65, 5.5); Moutinho 5, Veloso 5 (Costa 45, 5), Meireles 5; Nani 6, H Almeida 5 (Eder 23, 5), Ronaldo 5.
Subs: Eduardo, William Carvalho, Vieirinha, Luis Neto, Rafa, Varela, Ruben Amorim, Postiga, Beto.
Booked: Pereira.
Sent off: Pepe.
Man of the match: Thomas Muller.
Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia)
Match ratings by IAN LADYMAN
It appears Cristiano Ronaldo’s dream year will not be capped by a rampage across Brazil. He was modest at best yesterday but it was hard to blame him. Any talent — no matter how divine — needs a platform on which to function.
He is a diamond surrounded by some pretty ugly rocks and even if Portugal do recover to beat USA and Ghana it is hard to imagine them moving beyond the last 16.
That cannot be said of Germany. This was a remarkable performance on a devastatingly hot day. Certainly they were helped by Pepe’s dismissal, delivered by Serbian referee Milorad Mazic for a mindless butt on Thomas Muller.
Portugal manager Paulo Bento appeared to question the referee’s objectivity in deciding to send Pepe off. That was rubbish.
Germany were already two goals to the good by that time, anyway. All Pepe’s act of madness did was allow them to ease off a little with almost an hour left to play.
Such was the German superiority that Sami Khedira was able to play 90 minutes when the plan had been to take him off after 45. He was superb — so, too, Mario Gotze and, of course, Muller.
Germany played with purpose and identity. As he did four years ago, Joachim Low — their splendidly understated coach — appears to have brought them to the start line in prime condition.
Not much in it: Thomas Muller (left) is caught by Pepe's flailing arm duirng the first half
Over-reaction: Muller goes over the top after being caught by Pepe's flailing arm
Theatrics: Muller (left) flings himself to the floor holding his face as Pepe plays on
Argument: Pepe has a go at Muller following the incident
Seeing red: Pepe butts Muller while the German is sat on the floor and is sent off
Startled: Muller reacts in shock and disbelief after Pepe's ridiculous headbutt
Squaring up: Muller angrily reacts after the Portugal defender's act of violence
Off you go: Pepe (second right) is sent off as Muller (left) is held back by team-mate Toni Kroos
Early on, Portugal briefly threatened. One scamper down the left by Ronaldo allowed Hugo Almeida to shoot tamely at Manuel Neuer, while another break saw the Portugal captain drive in a low effort.
Bento’s team never seemed to settle across their own back line, however, and they almost gifted Germany the lead very early on.
A back pass which Pepe played without looking took goalkeeper Rui Patricio away from his line. When his hurried, scuffed clearance landed at Khedira’s feet 35 yards from goal, the Real Madrid midfielder struck the ball first time only to see it pass outside the post by a few inches.
Soon afterwards came Germany’s opening goal. Perhaps Gotze was leaning in to Joao Pereira a little as the two men tussled in the area, but the Portuguese defender did seem to have a grip of his opponent. After Gotze fell down, Muller stepped up to stroke the penalty in.
Three and easy: Thomas Muller (centre) lashes home Germany's third and put them in total control
Sealing victory: Muller's second and Germany's third
Heading for an easy win: Mats Hummels (second right) rises to nod in Germany's second goal
Joy: Hummels (right) makes straight for the Germany substitutes after scoring
Roar of delight: Muller celebrates putting Germany 1-0 up early on in Salvador
Spot on: Muller dispatches the penalty into the corner with ease to set Germany on their way
Out of reach: Portugal keeper Rui Patricio dives but can get nowhere near Muller's penalty
Foul: Mario Gotze (centre) is brought down by Joao Pereira (right) for Germany's early penalty
So early in the game, it already looked a long way back for Portugal and, in their own half at least, things quickly deteriorated.
Gotze looked about to score in the 31st minute as he moved on to Mesut Ozil’s low cross, only for Pereira to divert the shot over with his knee. It was a fine block but one that was rendered irrelevant within 30 seconds as Mats Hummels rose above Pepe to thump in a header from the resulting corner.
Two down now, Portugal certainly seemed doomed. By half-time they were.
Twice in a minute they came close to scoring as Fabio Coentrao inexplicably chose not to shoot when clear and then substitute Eder — on for the injured Almeida — headed a corner over. Almost immediately Pepe contributed his piece of madness and Germany were left with a man advantage.
Perhaps the arm in the face of Muller was not quite enough to put the German on the seat of his pants. But Pepe is no stranger to a bit of method acting himself and the decision to follow up with a nudge of his head was ridiculous. Within seconds he was back in the dressing room.
Isolated: Ronaldo cuts a frustrated figure as Portugal collapse in the first half
Keeping him out: Hummels (right) goes to block a Ronaldo shot on goal
It's one on one: Ronaldo faces up Muller and attempts to beat the Germany forward
Facing facts: Cristiano Ronaldo's kit including his shin pad with his mug on it (left picture, bottom right) and warming up before the Germany match (right)
All that remained now was to see how much more pain Germany could inflict. Quite a bit as it turned out. Muller poked in the third just before half time after anticipating well to block a Bruno Alves clearance and Muller was able to score his third when Patricio couldn’t hold an Andre Schurrle effort with 15 minutes left.
By this time, Coentrao had departed with what looked to be a serious thigh injury and Portugal’s misery was complete.
They don’t look like they will be with us for long. Germany, on the other hand, have started with menace once again.
Comentários
Postar um comentário