FIFA WC2014,GERMANY Vs PORTUGAL : Germany dominates Portugal, 4-0

FIFA WC 2014,GERMANY Vs PORTUGAL ,

 SALVADOR, BRAZIL,June 17 : This was one of the most anticipated battles of the opening round of matches. Germany, one of the favorites to win the World Cup, taking on Portugal, led by perhaps the best player in the world in Ronaldo. It was expected this game to be "The Superpower versus the Superstar" .

 Well it’s big win for the Germans. They look set to make an impact in this World Cup and it will take something to beat this team. On the day Portugal looked really jaded. They paid the price for some reckless decisions on the field much to the delight for Germans .

Thomas Mueller scored tournament’s first hat-trick in Germany’s 4-0 route of Portugal in a characteristic display of attacking football even as the hitherto free-scoring World Cup saw its first drawn match on the fifth day.

Portugal’s goalkeeper Rui Patricio fails to save Germany’s forward Thomas Mueller’s penalty during the Group G football match between Germany and Portugal

Three-time champions Germany celebrated their record 100th World Cup match, the most for any country, in style by steamrolling Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal who played for nearly an hour with 10 men after defender Pepe was sent off for attempting a head-butt on Mueller in the 37th minute.

Pepe of Portugal headbutts Thomas Mueller of Germany resulting in a red card during the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, who made it to Portugal starting line-up after being bothered by a left-knee injury in the build-up, made little impact on the game. He threatened early with a shot from a break that Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer could only block. His other significant involvement was a fine free kick late into the match but Neuer was upto the task.

 

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (7) leaps in front of Germany’s Jerome Boateng (20) to stop the ball during the group G World Cup soccer match between Germany and Portugal at the Arena Fonte Nova

 

Germany are now joined by United States on top of the so-called Group of Death after the Americans beat Ghana 2-1 at Natal. US thus avenged their defeat against Ghana in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa in the round of 16.