This was not the start Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal were expecting. However, one thing is for sure: The 4-0 loss to Germany in the first game of Group G will go a long way in helping Ghana or the United States get to the knockout stage.
While Portugal started off well enough, a counter led by Cristiano Ronaldo yielded no results. The Real Madrid man had a rip from a tough angle, which was saved easily. Then disaster struck for Portugal.
Mario Gotze was taken down inside the box, resulting in a Germany penalty kick which Thomas Muller buried. Portugal didn’t threaten in return, and the German blitzkrieg continued as Mats Hummels added to the lead with a beautiful header on a corner:
5 minutes later, things got even worse. Pepe was handed a red card for a minor head butt to Thomas Muller, which will force him to miss next Sunday’s match versus the U.S.
It was self destruction from here on out for Portugal. Just before the halftime Muller, got his second of the game:
Suffice it to say, nothing went right for Portugal from here on out. Hugo Almeida and Fabio Coentrao both had to be subbed out due to injury. And while the remaining schedule does get easier for Portugal, playing Ghana and the U.S. in their next games, without Pepe (and possibly without Almeida and Coentrao) things could get tough for the Selecção.
Muller, the 2010 Golden Boot winner, netted a hat trick in the 78’, which could go a long way if goal differential becomes a factor. Not that it mattered here. Portugal really didn't have a chance after the Pepe red card. Containing an attack as stout as Germany's is already tough with 11 men, and is almost impossible with 10 men. Portugal will be looking for a tie in the U.S.-Ghana game, as they will most likely need to win their next two games to get out of the group.
