'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Another World Cup opener. Another high class performance from the Germans, and absoutely no mercy shown to the Portuguese – especially in a first half where Die Mannschaft were rampant.
For Portugal, things can only go one way from this – better. So, they will be hoping for a much improved showing in their next game against the USA, but they will be without the services of Pepe and possibly, Fabio Coentrao as well.
Here’s a look at how each player fared in this highly anticipated clash, that turned out to be an anticlimax.
Germany
Manuel Neuer: 6/10
Neuer had just one notable save to make in the whole game – off a late Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick. Neuer will have tougher days than this one at this World Cup, and for Germany, he will have to be up for it.
Jerome Boateng: 6/10
Defensively, Boateng was barely tested as Cristiano Ronaldo had a complete off day down Portugal’s left flank. Maybe, it was the fact that he had to curb Ronaldo, but offensively, Boateng had very little to offer in support of Mesut Özil on Germany’s right.
Per Mertesacker: 7/10
It was a typical Mertesacker performance. Solid, unspectactular, unassuming, but performing his role to absolute perfection. What little was thrown at him, Mertesacker repelled, and ensured that Germany had a clean sheet to celebrate.
Mats Hummels: 8/10
Like Mertesacker, Hummels did what was asked off him in defense. He also showed his aerial prowess by heading in the second German goal. Joechim Loew would be looking anxiously at his star man’s fitness ahead of their next roudn of matches, after he was carried off the field today.
Benedikt Howedes: 6.5/10
Like the other three German defenders, Howedes had very little to do as they were barely tested by an off-colour Portugal. BUt, Howedes could haveoffered more in an attacking sense, where he was found slightly limited.
Philipp Lahm: 7/10
Strong, commanding and workmanlike. It was a typical Lahm performance in midfield. He was assured on the ball, and ensured that the likes of Joao Moutinho and Raul Meireles had an afternoon to forget.
Toni Kroos: 7.5/10
Kroos had a terrific game alongside Lahm in midfield. Spraying passes all over the field, Kroos even bagged an assist as his corner was met by a thundering header from Hummels.
Sami Khedira: 8.5/10
No goals or assists to show for his efforts, but Khedira was quite simply outstanding. His rampaging runs forward ensured that there was space for the likes of Özil and Mario Götze to run into, and feed Thomas Mueller.
Mesut Özil: 7.5/10
Özil also had a really good game. His clever movement and range of passing kept Fabio Coentrao on his toes throughout, and with Cristiano Ronaldo barely tracking back, it only made Özil’s job easier.
Mario Götze: 7/10
Götze had a strong game on Germany’s left flank, proving to be a constant menace for Joao Pereira. However, Götze could have easily rounded off his display with a couple of goals, had he taken the chances that presented themselves
Thomas Mueller: 9.5/10 – Man of the Match
Mueller did what Mueller usually does. Getting into brilliant goalscoring positions, and proving to be too hot for the defenders to handle. His off the ball movement is an absolute delight to watch, and he got himself a hat-trick to boot. Mueller carried straight on from where left off in 2010 in South Africa.
Subs:
Andre Schuerrle: 6/10
Schuerrle had a nice half hour run out against a beleaguered Portugal side, and got in on the act, assisting Mueller’s third goal.
Shkodran Mustafi: N/A
Came on with 10 minutes to go, and did not make an impact.
Lukas Podolski: N/A
Like Mustafi, Podolski also came on with too little time left to make any sort of impact.
Portugal
Rui Patricio: 4/10
Patricio looked very shaky, a stark contrast to the assured tournament he had at Euro 2012. His clearances very way off, constantly finding German players, and he could have done better with a couple of Mueller’s goals.
Joao Pereira: 6/10
Pereira was the best Portuguese player on show. Defending well, getting up in attack, and providing a costant outlet for Portugal to get out of trouble. Portugal will look to Pereira for more such performances.
Pepe: 0/10 – Flop of the Match
Pepe did what he has built some sort of reputation for – being a thug. It was a moment o futter stupidity when he headbutted Mueller, and although he had reason to be aggrieved at Mueller’s play-acting, acting like the way he did has no place in the modern game.
Bruno Alves: 4/10
Bruno Alves alongside Pepe had a poor game, as the Germans ran rings around Portugal. His worst moment came when he hit his clearance straight to Mueller for Germany’s third goal.
Fabio Coentrao: 5.5/10
Till he went off due to injury, Coentrao, like Pereira, porvided a constant outlet down Portugal’s left flank. He wasn’t aided by the fact that Ronaldo was extremely poor on the day.
Miguel Veloso: 5/10
Veloso had to be taken off at Half Time to cover for Pepe’s stupidity. But, even when he was there on the pitch, there was very little he could do about the German juggernaut.
Raul Meireles: 5/10
Meireles occupied many positions throughout the course of the game, but perhaps the most catchy aspect of Meireles today was his hairstyle and beard.
Joao Moutinho: 5.5/10
Moutinho tried hard to galvanize Portugal but could do very little against a well-drilled German outfit.
Nani: 5/10
One of those days when Nani eclipsed Ronaldo, but that was nothing to ride home about, as both of Portugal’s stars failed miserably in their World Cup opener.
Cristiano Ronaldo: 1/10
No tracking back, no spark on the ball, no trace of the Ronaldo we know were seen in the first half. The second half too bore a similar story, as the only thing that changed was the colour of his Captain’s armband.
Hugo Almeida: 2/10
Almeida had to be carried off the field early in the piece, but when he was there, he was poor as well. Poor hold up play, and his link up play left a lot to be desired as well.
Substitutes:
Eder: 5/10
Eder tried hard to make things happen, but there was an obvious gulf in class between the young Portuguese and the well-oiled German machine.
Ricardo Costa: 5/10
The experienced hand at the back, who came on for damage limitation did a reasonablejob, as Portugal conceded only one goal in the second half.
Andre Almeida: 4/10
Almeida was poor once he came on, as he amde far too many loose touches, and his positional sense was poor as well.
