Ronaldo left in shade by hat-trick hero Muller

WORLD CUP GROUP G:

Portugal were already 2-0 down before they imploded completely with Pepe, always the man most likely to lose his head, shown a straight red card for a light head-butt on Muller.

Germany, utterly dominant despite playing without a recognised centre-forward, went on to win 4-0 with a hat-trick for Muller — the golden boot winner at the last World Cup — and a thunderous header from Mats Hummels.

It meant a hugely disappointing result for world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo, who had declared himself fully fit from his knee injury.

Portugal face a real test now in a strong group with USA and Ghana where goal difference is likely to prove crucial, and to make matters worse lost another key defender, Fabio Coentrao, to a nasty-looking injury.

After numerous let-offs for Portugal Germany were not to be denied. Joao Pereira pulled back Mario Gotze as he twisted in the box and the Portuguese defender was lucky to be only booked by Serbian referee Milorad Mazic.

Muller did not look for a second as though he would miss the penalty, and he buried it emphatically to put the Germans ahead with 12 minutes gone.

Muller said afterwards he did not feel the nerves at all as he stepped up to the spot.

“I’ve been involved in the last three major tournaments so I’m used to the pressure,” he said. “But to score three goals in one game — that’s pretty amazing, and the goals just got better and better.

“It’s fantastic, but the merit also goes to the rest of the team.”

Nani then sent a shot skimming over the crossbar as Portugal tried to respond, but it was Germany who struck again.

Gotze had been denied by a last-ditch block after excellent work by Mesut Ozil but from the corner, taken by Toni Kroos, Hummels crashed home a header despite the attentions of two defenders.

Eder headed over from a corner as Portugal tried desperately to get back into the game but then came Pepe’s moment of self-destruction.

Muller went down claiming he had been caught in the face by Pepe’s arm, but the Real Madrid defender’s reaction was to push his head into the German forward’s.

It may have been the lightest of head-butts but it was pure stupidity form Pepe, who has previous for this kind of thing, and he was given his marching orders.

“I just felt a blow from his fist, but I can’t really remember much of what happened after,” said Muller, who confronted his assailant verbally, but not physically to ensure his own name did not end up in the referee’s book.

Muller effectively ended the contest just before the break, firing in off Rui Patricio’s body as Portugal’s defence gave way again.

Germany finally wrapped it up when substitute Andre Schurrle crossed low and Rui Patricio merely palmed the ball to Muller to poke him from close range with 12 minutes left.

Ronaldo’s influence was strictly limited.

Jerome Boateng, tasked with dealing with the Ballon d’Or winner, was delighted to come out on top of that personal battle, although he, like Muller, emphasised the triumph of the collective.

“We put them under a lot of pressure. It was a great team performance. Cristiano Ronaldo never even had a chance really.” .

GERMANY: Neuer, Boateng, Mertesacker, Hummels (Mustafi 73), Howedes, Lahm, Khedira, Kroos, Ozil (Schurrle 62), Muller (Podolski 81), Gotze.

PORTUGAL: Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Fabio Coentrao (Andre Almeida 65),Veloso (Ricardo Costa 46), Joao Moutinho, Meireles, Nani, Almeida (Eder 28), Ronaldo.

Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia).