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The good news is that Portugal played like World Cup champions; the bad news is we mean the 2014 version of Spain and not the one that lifted the trophy, four years ago.
After Spain’s 5-1 humbling to the Netherlands on Friday, there was more pain for fans in the Spanish capital as Real Madrid’s Portuguese contingent was humbled in an emphatic 4-0 loss to Germany.
Portugal and Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score—despite a joint tournament high seven shots—while defender Pepe was sent off and versatile full back Fabio Coentrão was stretchered off with an injury.
(Copyright AFP 2014/Francisco Leong)
Mr Live Wire understands Ronaldo was distraught; until he got to the dressing room and looked in the mirror.
In the other Group G match-up, “Team USA” made its best ever start to a World Cup as captain Clint Dempsey dribbled around Ghanaian defender John Boye before driving home, just 32 seconds into what proved to be an exciting 2-1 win. Andre Ayew scored an 82nd minute equaliser for Ghana but then John Brooks struck with the winner in the 86th minute.
And, let’s be fair, you never see “Mr Brooks” coming do you?
Thus far, three of CONCACAF’s four representatives have won in Brazil.
Elsewhere in the World Cup, Iran and Nigeria played to a goalless draw in a contest loosely described as a football match.
Thankfully, they could not spoil another thrilling day for football.
After Argentine captain Lionel Messi opened his 2014 account with a brilliant solo effort, all eyes were on his Portuguese rival to answer—as is often the case in the pair’s Barcelona/Madrid rivalry.
But Germany, to quote the Tourism Minister, was “not in that s**t.”
Thomas Müller scored three times while defender Mats Hummels powered home a header as the Germans treated their fellow European team like a light snack and treated to the tournament to an excellent all-round display.
The match did have its moment of controversy, though, as Portugal played for roughly an hour with ten players.
Pepe, Madrid’s provocative defender, poked his head into Müller’s face in the 37th minute and was rewarded with a straight red card from Serbian referee Milorad Mazi.
(Copyright AFP 2014/Patrik Stollarz)
It was a needless and annoying act from Pepe; but could that really be described as a head-butt? Really, ref?
Maybe the next person that Mazi high-fives should bring him up on assault charges.
Today’s 2014 World Cup score summary
Group G
Germany 4 (Thomas Müller 12 pen, 46, 78, Mats Hummels 32), Portugal 0
USA 2 (Clint Dempsey 1, John Brooks 86), Ghana 1 (Andre Ayew 82)
Group F
Iran 0, Nigeria 0
Star of the Day
Germany attacker Thomas Müller scored the first World Cup hattrick since Gonzalo Higuain’s treble against South Korea, four years ago. Not bad for the beanpole that Diego Maradona once mistook for a ball boy.
Villain of the Day
Pepe (Portugal) for spending more time trying to annoy opponents than play football; and referee Milorad Mazi (Serbia) for thinking that being annoying is a red card offence.
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Javeed ad we have oil, natural gas, and the pitch lake that ent going any where ent plenty billions of monies ent Them really good yes.
And we country so small to be having all of these issues when it comes to sending a team to world cup…
Sim if is one thing I could agree with you on is the point of TnT reaching WC2018!!!!
Sim I have been doing so for mucho years in the America eh, hence the reason I started the Players Association in Brooklyn N.Y. not only to defend your players from being exploited and to educate them about contracts and amongst other things but mainly to show them how they must be treated when it comes to playing football especially for their country and that corrupted TTFA, but some of them head hard, they just wanted to play for a box of chicken and chips and a red solo while Jack Warner and his cronies went to the bank smiling ask the captain of the strike squad, who was against the Players Association coming alive even back then ent and I wonder why. Some players does just sell out to Jack Warner yes. Them really good yes.
Earl, first thing to do is pay them! Jack didn’t understand that.
Sim let them bounce their heads and give me the job nah, and I will do it for free eh I will definitely show them how our national local coaches and our players should be treated in order for this to really happen steeuuppss Them really good yes.
La Horquetta, the Soca Warriors can qualify in 2018 if the TTFF gets it’s act together now. We have the talent but we need the right people to organize the team.
La Horguetta doh say that to loud eh, because folks does get vex with me yes when I say the same thing but I am just being real. Them really good yes.
Trinidad & Tobago will not make a world cup for the next 20 years look how America playing football high quality and they had a bad game…
Go Concacaf