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28 March 2024

Fifa World Cup 2014: Mueller hat-trick puts Ronaldo in shade

Published
By Football Correspondent and Agencies

Thomas Mueller spectacularly stole the limelight from World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo on Monday with a hat-trick in a stunning 4-0 demolition of 10-man Portugal at the World Cup.

Bayern Munich star Mueller marked his 50th international appearance in style with a 12th-minute penalty and an injury time strike in first half injury time.

He then grabbed his third in the 78th minute with defender Matts Hummel having also got on the scoresheet in the first period.

Ronaldo, who was playing despite having suffered a knee injury, hardly figured as his career World Cup goals tally remained on a paltry two.

Thomas Mueller's hat-trick inspired Germany to a ruthless 4-0 mauling of 10-man Portugal in their World Cup opener on Monday, hammering home their credentials as serious title contenders in Brazil.

Billed as a clash of European heavyweights, the Germans ignored the soaring Salvador heat to deliver a sizzling attacking display against a disappointing Portugal, effectively ending the Group G game as a contest by halftime.

Portugal could not cope with the pace and movement of their much more organised and fitter-looking opponents and were 3-0 down by the interval as Mueller, marking his 50th international, scored either side of a thumping Mats Hummels header.

"Three goals in one match, in the opening match against such an opponent is just great," Mueller, whose side are bidding to end a 18-year title drought, told reporters.

"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."

Portugal coach Paulo Bento had feared the likely impact of the lunchtime heat, but his game plan failed to match the Germans' who went for a fast start before energy levels fell, with interchanging forwards Goetze, Mueller and Mesut Ozil causing havoc.

"We dominated the first half in the midfield with fast through balls to the strikers. We were clinical in finishing our chances, we had four goals from about six chances," Germany coach Joachim Loew told a news conference.

In their 100th World Cup match, the first team to reach the milestone, Germany were in the mood to party and went 1-0 up on 12 minutes through a Mueller penalty after the clever Mario Goetze wriggled away from Joao Pereira and was hauled down.

Hummels, who later limped off with an injury, powered home the second from a corner on 32 minutes before Mueller, top scorer at the 2010 World Cup, stole in ahead of a sleepy Bruno Alves to smash in the third in first-half stoppage-time.

The task was made even harder for Portugal by a needless 37th minute red card for Pepe. The defender, furious at what he felt was "simulation" by Mueller following a slight collision between the two, was sent off for pushing his head into the German's as he sat on the ground.

WILD SCREAMS


A poor qualifying campaign meant Portugal were forced to arrive in Brazil via a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired playoff win over Sweden but their talisman and main goal threat could do little to impact proceedings at the Fonte Nova arena, cutting a frustrated figure throughout.

Much had been made of his inclusion after injury problems and although he began the day with wild screams meeting the mere mention of his name, jeers soon rang out as his infrequent touches came to little - a parried free kick his best effort.

With German Chancellor Angela Merkel watching in the crowd, it was Mueller who enjoyed the crowd's appreciation, completing the first hat-trick of the tournament after 78 minutes when he prodded home a spilled Andre Schuerrle cross. It was only the second hat-trick of the last three World Cups.

Portugal's best chance was a first-half Nani shot that narrowly fizzed over, while substitute striker Eder had a decent penalty shout denied after colliding with Benedikt Hoewedes.

Low points included goalkeeper Rui Patricio lazily presenting Sami Khedira with an open goal and Nani and Fabio Coentrao tackling each other on a rare foray into Germany's box.

The impressive victory extended Germany's run of having won every opening World Cup match since 1990 and they have scored at least four goals in five of those seven games.

For Portugal, who had only conceded once in their previous six World Cup group games, the defeat left qualification in the balance with games against the U.S. and Ghana to come.

"We have to analyse this in all calm," Bento said.

"For us the game was over by halftime and although we tried a bit in the second half, we didn't show much either. Germany controlled the game by holding the ball and the two decisions (penalty and red card) threw us out of balance."

FULL TIME

Germany 3 (Mueller 12-pen, 45+1, 78" Hummels 32") Portugal 0

90+2" Ronaldo's rocket of a free kick is on target but is punched away by Neuer.

90" Portugal have two more minutes of misery to endure.

87" Podolski takes a tumble inside the box but his penalty appeals are dismissed.

85" A poor free kick from Ronaldo sums up Portugal's day.

83" Ronaldo's shot from 20 yards out is deflected.

82" Podolski comes in as Mueller goes off to a massive ovation.

78" GOAL! Mueller gets his hat-trick after Patricio just managing to push out a fine cross from Schurrle to tap it home. He is now the top scorer at the tournament.

Germany 3 (Mueller 12-pen, 45+1, 78" Hummels 32") Portugal 0

75" Nani's powerful shot from the edge of the area is blocked while Ronaldo's appeal for a penalty after Eder is tripped inside the box is turned down.

73" Shkodran Mustafi comes in for Hummels.

72" Problem for Germany as Hummels goes down after an aerial challenge with Eder.

69" Gotze's shot is deflected after a sweeping counter attack with Schurrle going through and pulling a pass back to Bayern striker.

68" Portugal makes a foray with Moutinho releasing Nani but Mertesacker blocks while the corner is headed to safety.

64" Another blow for Portugal as Coentrao is clutching his leg after pulling his hamstring when stretching to collect a pass from Moutinho and is stretchered off.

62" Chelsea man Schurrle, replaces Arsenal's Ozil.

60" Ronaldo can't get the shot beyond the wall and the corner is just cleared after a goalmouth scramble.

59" Ronaldo wins a free kick after being caught by Boateng just outside the box.

57" Ronaldo tries to take on the German backline but is tackled by Hummels.

56" Germans playing possession football with Ozil nearly going through after being set free by Kroos.

54" Khedira heads away a Portugal free kick from a dangerous position after Eder is brought down.

52" Coentrao and Nani get in each other's way going for the same ball on the left.

51" It could have been four for Germany as Mueller heads over the bar after Ozil's shot is saved by Patricio.

49" Nice play from Coentrao as he drives down the left but his cross is over-hit.

46" The only question is how many more goal Germany will get in the next 45 minutes against 10-man Portugal.

Portugal have made one change at the break with defender Ricardo Costa coming on for Miguel Veloso.

HALF-TIME

Germany 3 (Mueller 12-pen, 45+1 Hummels 32") Portugal 0

45+1" GOAL! Mueller has given Germany an almost unassailable lead drilling through Patricio after Bruno Alves fails to clear a cross.

Germany 3 (Mueller 12-pen, 45+1 Hummels 32") Portugal 0

42" The German's are slicing open Portugal's defense at will. This time it's down the right, where they exchange three quick passes to get Ozil to the byline. he cuts it back to Gotze, whose shot is partially block and floats safely into Patricio's arms.

40" Half the German squad gets involved in the free kick, taking turns running over the ball before Kroos' effort is deflected over by the wall. The corner is cleared..

37" RED! Pepe is shown a red card after an altercation with Mueller.

First he puts his hand in Mueller's face and the German goes down. While Mueller is sitting down, Pepe walks over, leans down, and headbutts him.

36" Eder's header from a corner by Moutinho goes over the bar.

31" Germany win a corner after Ozil finds Gotze whose shot is deflected away.

30" Kroos swings a free kick from a dangerous aread but Ronaldo heads it away.

32" GOAL! Germany double their lead after a bullet header from Hummels following a corner.

Germany 2 (Mueller 12-pen Hummels 32") Portugal 0

28" Almeida limps out holding his thigh and is replaced by Sporting Braga forward Eder.

25" Nani goes close with the Manchester United's winger's shot from the edge of the area just sailing over the crossbar.

21" Moutinho is given a final warning by the referee after bringing down Philip Lahm just before the half-way line.

18" Germany enjoying more possession while Portugal looking dangerous on the counter.

16" Ozil feeds Boateng wide, and he finds Khedira running through the right channel. Germany look very sharp, quick, and dangerous.

12" GOAL! Mueller slot the spot kick into the bottom left corner after Gotze is hauled down by Pereira who is booked.

Germany 1 (Mueller 12-pen) Portugal 0

8" Khedira shoots wide from 25 yards after the Portugal stopper's clearance lands at his feet.

7"  Ronaldo's low drive to the corner of the area is stopped well by Neuer after the ball is robbed off Lahm.

4" Almeida fires tamely after a fine burst by Ronaldo with Neuer gathering the ball easily.

2" Jerome Boateng gets down the right and delivers a deep cross. Mario Gotze climbs ahead of his marker, but Pepe clears the ball for a corner.

Kick-off
: Germany get the match underway.

Portugal wins the coin toss and chooses to play from left to right on your screen.

Fit-again Cristiano Ronaldo will start up front for Portugal in Monday's World Cup Group G opener against Germany, whose attack will be lead by Thomas Mueller.

For the lunchtime clash at Salvador's Fonte Nova arena, Portugal coach Paulo Bento named forwards Hugo Almeida and Nani to play alongside Ronaldo, who has recovered from a left knee problem.

Joao Moutinho will orchestrate Portugal's three-man midfield while Germany coach Joachim Loew handed places to Toni Kroos, Mario Goetze and Mesut Ozil, with the trio playing in attacking midfield roles ahead of Philipp Lahm and Sami Khedira in the holding positions.

Forward Lukas Podolski, who had been tipped to start, is on the bench alongside striker Miroslav Klose, who is just one goal away from equalling the all-time World Cup goals record of 15 held by Brazil's Ronaldo.

TEAMS

Portugal (4-3-3): Patricio, Alves, Pepe, Veloso, Coentrao, Ronaldo, Moutinho, Almeida, Meireles, Nani, Pereira

Substitutes: Eduardo, William, Vieirinha, Eder, Ricardo Costa, Neto, Rafa Silva, Varela, Almeida, Amorim, Beto, Postiga.

Germany (4-2-3-1): Neuer, Howedes, Hummels, Khedira, Ozil, Mueller, Lahm, Mertesacker, Kroos, Gotze, Boateng

Substitutes: Grosskreutz, Ginter, Schweinsteiger, Schurrle, Podolski, Klose, Zieler, Draxler, Durm, Mustafi, Weidenfeller, Kramer.

PREVIEW

World Player of the Year, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, said he had nothing more to prove in his career as he declared himself fit for Monday's World Cup Group G match against Germany.

Ronaldo's fitness had been in doubt after struggling with tendinosis in his left knee, and despite training on Sunday with the injured area taped up, the goal machine said his niggles were all in the past.

"I've been practising now for some days and if I'm doing that it is because I am feeling well," Ronaldo told reporters.

"If I am not ready I am the first to tell the coach I don't want to play and I can't play. If I feel anything during the match, which I am sure I won't, I'll be the first to say."

Despite scoring an avalanche of goals in club competitions along with claiming the game's top club titles and trophies, Ronaldo has just two goals in 10 World Cup matches.

One was a penalty against Iran in 2006, and the other the last strike in a 7-0 drubbing of North Korea in 2010.

Asked if a great World Cup was what was lacking in his glittering career, the 29-year-old responded emphatically.

"I don't think I have to show anyone anything. If you look at my statistics and my resume...I have no words for that question," he told a packed news conference.

"I think I do not have to demonstrate anything, not now, before, not after. What I have to do is just continue my career, which has been great so far."

Ronaldo credited the strength and depth of Portugal's opponents Germany ahead of their clash at the Fonte Nova arena in Salvador, but said that respect for the opposition must be ignored once the game starts.

"I am confident we will start off on the right foot," Ronaldo said, before firing a warning that could spell a busy afternoon for Germany's defence.

"I am ready, I am feeling well, and I really want to have a great World Cup."