Pathetic Portugal and Pepe gift Germany goals in Group G

Rui Patricio, in nets for the Navigators, also spilled a low centre which allowed Muller to take home the match ball. That’s eight World Cup finals goals for him now – six behind Miroslav Klose, an unused substitute here, and seven shy of the record set by Ronaldo – at just 24 years of age.

In midfield, there was no attempt from Bento’s boys to match the dynamism of Low and co. Former Chelsea and Liverpool agitator Raul Meireles, creator Joao Moutinho and Miguel Veloso, sacrificed at half time when Portugal brought on Ricardo Costa to shore things up after the sending off, played like three men taking their places for granted.

Punters should not be surprised if Bento selects Sporting Lisbon starlet William Carvalho next time, just to freshen things up with younger legs eager to impress. Costa’s introduction in defence only increased the average age of the back six outfield players.

Nani was woeful out wide once again, selfishly taking on a shot when Coentrao was better placed to try on a rare foray into the final third. Hugo Almeida, complete with downturned moustache, laboured in attack for less than half an hour before an almost embarrassed Bento had the excuse of an injury to haul him off.

Replacement Eder put himself about, but how has it come to this for a nation that produced Eusebio, Nuno Gomes and Pauleta? This criticism en masse only leaves Cristiano Ronaldo surviving with his reputation intact, but even he was off-colour after injury struggles.

A trademark free kick from Portugal’s captain and record scorer was driven into a one-man wall, but Ronaldo later found his range when he forced Manuel Neuer to parry. As bad as Portugal were here, Germany were also great.

Low took a calculated risk by continuing to use four central defenders across the backline, but thankfully the Navigators wide players never got the chance to run at them. Hummels was helped off after 70 minutes, and injury to him would be another blow to Germany.

The fluidity of their forwards is a strong positive, though, and that is reflected in a shortening of Low’s odds on gaining global glory to 4/1.

Germany topping Group G and Portugal as runners-up remains the favourite forecast at 6/5, ahead of the USA’s game with Ghana. Expect that market to change overnight.