Germany have dismantled 10-man Portugal on the way to a 4-0 victory in their first World Cup match in Salvador. Thomas Müller capped off the Germans' dominant display with a hat trick.
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A hat trick, a header and a red card: Germany v Portugal in pictures
Germany made a statement with a 4-0 win over Portugal in the World Cup. Here are the best moments in pictures.
Image: Reuters
Ronaldo starts
Captain Cristiano Ronaldo shook off injury worries to start against the Germans. In three previous tournament matches against Germany, the Real Madrid superstar had suffered three losses and scored no goals.
Image: Reuters
Angie in the stands
Longtime football fan German Chancellor Angela Merkel was in the stands for the match, saying before the game that she hoped "for a win, and for six more wins to follow this one."
Image: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images
Müller opens the scoring
After Mario Götze was brought down in the box, Thomas Müller stepped up to take the penalty. His low finish to goalkeeper Rui Patricio's right put Germany 1-0 ahead - just.
Image: Reuters
Hummels makes it two
Just past the half-hour mark, Toni Kroos' corner found Mats Hummels in the box. The Borussia Dortmund defender leapt high into the air to head home Germany's second goal of the day.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Pepe sent off
Portugal's outing went from disaster to nightmare in the 37th minute, after Pepe was sent off for his spat with Müller. It's unclear whether the red card was for pushing the German attacker or the confrontational aftermath that followed. Either way, Portgual were reduced to 10 men, to add to their two-goal deficit in the afternoon sunshine in Salvador.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
And another!
Rounding out an excellent first half for Germany, Müller scored his second of the evening in stoppage time. Rui Patricio got a hand on the shot, but only managed to slow the ball as it rolled into the back of the net.
Image: Reuters
Injury scare for Hummels
Only one scene from the game was truly liable to displease the German viewer: goal scorer Mats Hummels limping off the pitch with his arm around team Doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt's shoulders. Hummels celebrated on the pitch with his teammates after the final whistle - walking, albeit rather gingerly, on his injured right knee. Germany's next game is on Saturday against Ghana.
Image: Reuters
Hat trick hero
With just over 10 minutes to go, Müller capped his brilliant performance, completing his hat trick. The 24-year-old now has an astonishing eight goals in just seven World Cup games in his career. Substitute Andre Schürrle played a key part in creating the fourth - delivering a low cross that was too hot for Rui Patricio to handle in the six-yard box.
Image: Reuters
All smiles for Jogi
Coach Joachim Löw was justifiably exuberant after Germany's dominant display. Portugal was expected to be Germany's toughest opponent in the opening phase of the competition, but the result blows the "Group of Death" wide open.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Elation in Berlin
Germany supporters gathered at the "Fan Mile" in Berlin, and all around the country, to watch the match in the oen air. Four goals and a Müller hat trick gave them plenty of reason to celebrate - even after a rather gloomy preparation for the competition for the German national team.
Image: Reuters
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Thomas Müller was the hero on Monday as Germany ran out 4-0 winners against Portugal in Brazil. A team billed as Germany's toughest Group G opponent proved anything but a scare for Joachim Löw's men.
Facing a Portuguese attack spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo, Germany went with a more cautious back line that featured four center backs. But the extra safety in defense proved unnecessary for Löw - it was up front where the match was won.
Thomas Müller, the Golden Boot winner at the last World Cup, opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a penalty. After Joao Pereira brought down Mario Götze in the box, the Bayern Munich attacker made it 1-0 with a low shot that keeper Rui Patricio almost stopped.
Germany doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark through Mats Hummels. Toni Kroos' corner into the box found the Borussia Dortmund defender, who headed home to make it 2-0.
Already on the back foot, Portugal's disaster outing became a nightmare just five minutes later when Pepe was sent off. It was unclear whether the red card was for pushing Müller, or the confrontational contact that followed.
Moments before the break, Germany capitalized on their one-man advantage through Müller. Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio got a hand on Müller's left-footed strike, but could only manage to slow the ball as it rolled into the net.
Germans secure victory
In a moment illustrative of their overall performance on the day, Portugal's left back Fabio Coentrao was stretchered off in the 65th minute after pulling up with an injury. Germany had an injury scare of their own ten minutes later when Hummels went down with a knee injury. Shkodran Mustafi, a last-minute roster swap for the injured Marco Reus, was brought on to replace him.
While Germany's onslaught was slowed somewhat in the second half, Portugal were unable to truly test goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Instead, it was the Germans who next found the back of the net. Capping off a brilliant performance, Müller grabbed his third goal of the night in the 78th minute. As Rui Patricio dove to collect an Andre Schürrle cross, Müller poked the ball in from close range to score his eighth World Cup goal in an astonishing seven games.
"Three goals in one match, in the opening match against such an opponent is just great," Müller told German broadcaster ARD. "In the last four years I've had some experience in world soccer and I'm not the kind of guy who gets afraid."
"We got into the match really well and had some half chances then suddenly we were ahead 2-0. In heat like this a lead like that is a great advantage," he added.
The match finished 4-0 to Germany, who, aside from the Hummels injury scare, had reason only to celebrate. The victory blows open a so-called "Group of Death" where Portugal were considered the favorites to advance along with the Germans.