Muller scores first WC hat-trick for 2014 as Germany rip apart Portugal

Germany ripped apart Portugal to open their World Cup campaign in style as they won the match 4-0, with forward Thomas Muller scoring the first hat-trick of the 2014 tournament.

Muller, who scored five goals to bag the Golden Boot in South Africa four years ago, netted the ball in an early penalty and went to score the third and fourth goal for Germany as he took his World Cup total to eight.

According to the BBC, Portugal were a man short at 2-0 when they lost defender Pepe to a needless red card after he appeared to headbutt Muller and Paulo Bento's squad could not recover as the German's found the net twice more after that.

The result has left Germany in the pole position to dominate Group G and reportedly fuelling hopes of a first World Cup triumph since 1990.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, who was troubled by knee and thigh problems in the build-up to the tournament but showed no sign of discomfort during the match, tried hard to score a goal for his side but could not find the net.

Germany's opener came from Muller's penalty kick in the 12 th minute followed by Mats Hummels' goal in the 32 nd minute. Muller then went on to complete his hat-trick in after half time to take his World Cup goals total to eight, the report added.

Muller said that he has been involved in the last three major tournaments so he is used to the pressure, but to score three goals in one game is pretty amazing, and the goals just got better and better.

Muller added that it is fantastic, but the merit also goes to the rest of the German team.