World Cup 2014 Brazil » Group G » Live commentary: Germany - Portugal 4:0

Endgame Summary:
Behind a strong first half effort, the result was never in doubt for Germany throughout the game. Löw's team was superior in every facet and completely contained Ronaldo, whose rare shots mainly came from set-pieces and were poorly executed most of the time. The favorite emphasizes its claims with a great showing today and can calmly prepare for the second match. Paulo Bento meanwhile leaves Salvador with a lot of question marks and has to find ways to improve the performance of his Selecção in preparation of the meeting with the US. We hoped you enjoyed the coverage and stay tuned for more matches today!

Ronaldo finally hammers a free-kick onto the goal and forces Neuer to make the save. The keeper dives into the left corner and pushes the ball away.

German fans celebrate on the stands as the clock is running down.

With this defeat, the next game against a lurking US team already becomes a must-win for Bento's side. Germany will face Ghana next.

The matchwinner goes off with big ovations for Podolski, who rounded into form after a difficult year in Arsenal just in time for this World Cup. These are quality substitutes for Löw, who has plethora of options on the bench.

Goooal for Germany, 4:0 by Thomas Müller
Instead, Müller goes for the hat-trick and is the new topscorer of this World Cup! Rui Patrício fumbles a dangerous cross from Schürrle from the right and the Bayern star is there to rebound.

It's a tough decision for Mažić, who hears it from the crowd. Éder wins the race to the ball against Höwedes, but goes down from minimal contact. Nonetheless this could have been a penalty.

Germany has new injury worries as Hummels has to be taken off with a bloody knee after an awkward landing.

Great chance for Germany! Schürrle is leading the charge in transition down the right side for the Germans and crosses it to Götze in the middle. The Munich player initially loses Raúl Meireles with a cut, but sees his shot eventually deflected over the crossbar by the midfielder.

Nani sprints down the left side, cuts to the middle and aims for the far post, but Hummels is challenging the shot and deflects it away.

Ronaldo dispossesses Götze and launches a shot from 30 yard that doesn't find it's way through many defensive legs.

Well, that was quick. The Chelsea man checks in for an exerted Özil, who fell behind Müller and Götze today.

The underdog can establish itself in German territory, but the resulting corner is eventually cleared away.

Speaking of the superstar: He wins a free-kick from 30 yards out and will surely take it himself...

Özil has space down the right side, but no teammates in the box and has to slow down the play.

Meanwhile Germany patiently builds up and waits for its opportunities.

Rui Patrício's saves against Özil! Götze pokes a ball through the middle to the starting Özil, who might have been inches offside, but the Arsenal player can't beat the keeper with a low ball anyway.

It's the underdog that is carefully pushing forward in the early stages of this half, but not much noise in front of Neuer.

It's a quiet start to the second half, in which the German side might lack motivation due to the evident outcome.

There are two minutes of added time.

It sure doesn't get easier for Portugal, who now has to overcome the deficit with a man down.

Pepe (Portugal) is sent off
The Madrid man has the reputation of being a badboy and overreacts here. He brings down Müller with an arm to the face and while that was probably inadvertently, the following headbutt and verbal aggressions towards the sitting German are not.

Suddenly Coentrao, who looks offside, picks up the ball in the box after a great serve by Moutinho, but he should have been looking for his own shot in front of Neuer. Instead he squares the ball in search of Ronaldo and only gets a corner out of it.

Löw's group is on full control now and doesn't seem to slow down. This is by far the most convincing showing from any of the favorites in the tournament so far.

Götze has to make it two! Mesut Özil tracks down a long ball on the right side, finds the teammate in the middle, but the shot is deflected and misses just wide.

Germany's dominance has cooled off bit, but they still comfortably contain the opposing midfield.

Hugo Almeida is on trouble and needs medical attention. There might be an early change for Paulo Bento.

Good try by Nani! The United man finds himself against Höwedes at the edge of the box and aims for the left upper corner and the right-footed effort sails just over the crossbar.

Pep Guardiola called him the smartest players he has ever seen and Lahm justifies it by showing of his brilliant challenges as he tackles João Pereira from behind and wins the ball for Germany.

The resulting counterattack is ruled out by Mažić, because Nani allegedly fouled Lahm while dispossessing the captain. Big whistle by the Serbian because Ronaldo was all alone on the left side and probably would have had clear sight of the goal.

But for now, Germany remains dominant in midfield and doesn't surrender much possession to the opposing side.

Almeida is on the receiving end of a cross from the right side, but is inches offside as he lays the ball off to Ronaldo.

That's quite a start for the favorites and it's not undeserving because they invested more into their offense so far.

João Pereira (Portugal) is shown a yellow card
That's a good amount of luck for the right back because he was the last defender and it could easily have been a send-off.

What is Rui Patrício thinking? The Portgual keeper sends a clearance directly to Sami Khedira, who misses the empty goal by inches and can't capitalize off this major mistake!

But now Portugal is showing their pace for the first time, Cristiano breaks down the left side and brings Almeida into play in the middle. The forward is challenged by Höwedes and the deflected shot sails safely into Neuer's arms.

A wonderful crossfield pass finds Götze in the left penalty area, but he is met by Pepe and the centre back prevails.

The favorite starts off with crisp passing and Götze wins the header in the middle following a Boateng cross, but can't quite get enough contact on the ball.

Germany is immediately searching for Thomas Müller with an aerial pass, but it's out of reach for the forward and Rui Patrício clears it away.

We can probably expect a ball-dominant German midfield while underdogs Portugal could focus on their transitional play. The clashes between the tow sides have always been interesting and we don't expect anything less today.

The full lineups can be found here.

Concerns hang over both camps as many players were questionable or still rounding into form after injuries or a subpar season. Recurring and various problems threatened to keep FIFA player of the year and Champions League winner Ronaldo out of the encounter, but coach Paulo Bento can count on him tonight. The Portugese squad is highlighted by the Madrid trio of Pepe, Fábio Coentrão and their superstar, who is helped up front by Manchester's Nani and Hugo Almeida within a 4-3-3.

Last but not least the Germans start their World Cup title bid and after Brazil and Argentina won unconvincingly and Spain got smashed by the Netherlands, it's intriguing how the last of the big four favorites will fare tonight. On their way of starting the tournament in style, both teams not only will have to deal with the opposition, but also with the hot conditions. Although there has been some light rain throughout the day at the venue, the temperature will present a challenge.