Germany Crush Portugal 4-0 in Dominant World Cup Group G Opener
Germany delivered a commanding performance to dismantle Portugal 4-0 in the opening match of Group G at the 2014 World Cup in Salvador.
After a tentative start from both sides, it was Germany who took the lead in the 12th minute when Thomas Müller converted a penalty following a foul on Mario Götze in the box. The early goal set the tone for a dominant display by the reigning World Cup semifinalists.
Portugal struggled to find their rhythm, and their woes deepened in the 32nd minute when Mats Hummels powered home a header from a Toni Kroos corner to double Germany’s advantage. Moments later, frustration boiled over as Pepe was shown a straight red card after landing a punch on Müller immediately after clearing the ball, reducing Portugal to ten men.
Taking full advantage of their numerical superiority, Germany quickly extended their lead when Müller scored his second goal of the match in first-half stoppage time, sending the teams into the break 3-0 ahead.
The second half saw Portugal falter further, unable to cope with Germany’s relentless pressure. Müller completed his hat-trick in the 78th minute, securing his first three-goal haul of the tournament and sealing a resounding victory for Joachim Löw’s side.
The final scoreline reflected Germany’s dominance and sent a clear warning to their Group G rivals that they are among the favourites to contend for the trophy.
For Portugal and captain Cristiano Ronaldo, it was a night to forget. They will now need to regroup quickly as they face Ghana on June 21 in a must-win match to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Match highlights:
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Müller’s penalty opener (12’)
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Hummels’ towering header (32’)
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Müller’s second goal (45+1’)
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Müller’s hat-trick goal (78’)
Germany’s emphatic victory underscored their strength and tactical cohesion, while Portugal will need to find answers fast to salvage their World Cup campaign.
