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Portugal’s goalkeeper Rui Patricio fails to save Germany’s forward Thomas Mueller’s, right, penalty shot during the Group G football match at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, on June 16, 2014

Germany 4-0 Portugal
Scorers: (Mueller 12 pen, 45+1, 78, Hummels 32)
THE Germans coasted into the lead courtesy of a 12th minute Thomas Muller penalty, after Joao Pereira tugged back Mario Gotze, and Mats Hummels doubled their tally with a towering header from Toni Kroos corner. But Portugal’s chances in the match and perhaps the tournament were dealt a massive blow when Pepe was sent off for a butt on Muller.

It was a moment of madness from the Real Madrid man, who first appeared to hand off Mueller rugby style. But with the striker on the ground, perhaps embellishing the foul, Pepe planted his head into the Bayern Munich man’s face.

The red card was inevitable and Muller then rubbed salt into the wound by scoring a second on the stroke of half time.
Portugal were dealt a further blow as Fabio Coentrao was stretchered off with a groin strain and Muller completed the job late on when Rui Patricio fended Andre Schuerrle’s cross into his path.

It all mounted up to a disastrous start for Portugal and talisman Cristiano Ronaldo who was a picture of frustration as the Ballon d’Or winner failed to make any sort of impact on the biggest stage of all.

Key moments
7’ — BIG LET OFF FOR LAHM: he loses the ball in possession and it’s three on two. Veloso feeds Ronaldo but his low shot is stopped by Neuer.
8’ — LET OFF FOR PORTUGAL: Patricio’s awful clearance is straight at Khedira. It’s an unguarded net but his first-time shot is just wide.
10’ — PENALTY TO GERMANY! Pereira tugs back Gotze and he is lucky to stay on the field.
11’ — GOAL GERMANY!

Muller makes no mistake from the spot on his 50th appearance.
31’ — GOAL GERMANY! Hummels scores from the corner, thumping Kroos’ deliver home with his head.
37’ — RED CARD PEPE!

It’s a moment of madness. It’s a bit of an over-reaction from Muller to a hand to the face but Pepe then plants his head into him when he’s on the floor.
45’ — GOAL GERMANY!

Surely all over for Portugal now as Muller latches onto Alves’ poor clearance from Kroos’ ball in. He nets a brace for only the second time for Germany.

63’ — COENTRAO STRETCHERED OFF: he pulls up with a groin strain and could be out of the tournament.
78’ — MULLER HAT-TRICK: He taps home to score the first hat-trick of the 2014 World Cup and the first since Argentina’s  Gonzalo

Higuain scored three against South Korea  in 2010.
90+1’ — RONALDO GOES CLOSE: Neuer punches away his fierce freekick.

TALKING POINT: Did Muller get Pepe sent off? The was no excusing the butt while the German was on the floor but his blatant over-reaction to Pepe’s initial “hand-off” tipped him over the edge. There was contact but it was minimal and Muller certainly made the most of it.

PLAYER RATINGS
Portugal: Patricio 5, Alves 6, Pepe 3, Veloso 6, Coentrao 6, Ronaldo 6, Moutinho 6, Almeida 6, Meireles 6, Nani  6, Pereira 7. Subs: Eder 6, Costa 6, Almeida 6.

Germany: Neuer 6, Howedes 6, Hummels 7, Khedira 7, Ozil 6, Muller 9, Lahm 7, Mertesacker 6, Kroos 6, Gotze 7, Boateng 6. Subs: Schuerrle 7, Podolski 6, Mustafi 6.

Key statistics
Including shoot-outs, Germany have scored 19 of their last 20 penalties at World Cups.
Germany scored a goal in the first 15 minutes of an opening World Cup game for the fourth time in the last five tournaments (1998, 2006, 2010 and 2014).

This was the fourth World Cup in a row that Germany opened their campaign by scoring four goals or more.
Muller has scored eight goals in seven World Cup appearances. He now has as many World Cup goals as Diego Maradona and Rudi Voller. Muller claimed the 49th World Cup hat-trick in the competition’s history.

Germany have scored in 18 of their last 19 World Cup first round games. Portugal conceded three first half goals for the third time (also in 1966 against North Korea and 2002 against USA). — Eurosport