PORTUGAL vs GERMANY : Preview

Group G: Germany v Portugal

Venue: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador

Kick-off: 9 30pm(Indian Standard Time) (1pm, Brazil time)

TV coverage:Sony Six

 Odds: Germany 6/5, Draw 11/5, Portugal 13/5

 Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

As the FIFA World Cup kicks of further, the favorites, Portugal and Germany will get to play their First Official World Cup Match.

Germany and Portugal are both ranked among the top five in the FIFA rankings, and both have the potential to make runs in the World Cup -- similar to the way both teams reached the semifinals in the 2012 European Championships.

Germany is a well ranked team whereas Portugal is hard to predict. With German stars like Marco Reus and Gomez out of the World Cup, Germany will have a tough year ahead. Also, Emanuel Neuer is suffering from a slight shoulder injury and Schweinsteiger was airlifted to the hospital on Saturday for a knee injury scan.

Portuguese talisman Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that he will be playing in today's match which is definitely a huge boost for Portugal.

Opta stats

• Germany’s opening game at the 2014 World Cup against Portugal will be their 100th in the competition, they are the first team to reach that tally in the competition.
• Germany have only lost one of their last 18 games in the group stages of the World Cup, it was against Serbia on 18 June 2010 (0-1), winning 13 and drawing four.
• Portugal have lost their two games in the World Cup against their opponents in Group G: USA in 2002 and Germany in 2006.
• Die Mannschaft have opened their last six World Cups with a victory; the last time they failed to win their opening game was back in 1986, when they drew 1-1 with Uruguay.
• Germany scored more goals than any other team in the 2014 European World Cup qualifiers (36).
• Joao Moutinho delivered more assists than any other player in the 2014 European World Cup qualifiers (10).
• Portugal have only won one of their last seven games at the World Cup (7-0 v North Korea in 2010), drawing three and losing three.
• Cristiano Ronaldo has scored two goals from a total of 48 shots at the World Cup.
• Portugal have only won three of their 17 previous internationals against Germany (D5 L9), losing their last three at major tournaments (World Cup 2006, Euro 2012 and Euro 2008).
• Miroslav Klose currently has 14 World Cup goals – only Brazilian star Ronaldo has more (15).  (SOURCE:DailyMail)

POSSIBLE TEAM LINE-UPS

GERMANY-Jaochim Low

  

GK: Manuel Neuer
Arguably the best goalkeeper in the world right now, the Bayern Munich goalkeeper will have a large task of keeping Cristiano Ronaldo at bay. He could very well come through, though.

LB: Jerome Boateng
Another Bayern Munich player, Boateng is a very talented and versatile defender. Later in the tournament, he will be faced with the burden of facing his brother Kevin-Prince Boateng.

CB: Mats Hummels
The talented Borussia Dormund defender will most likely put in a very strong performance for Germany. He must keep striker Helder Postiga at bay.

CB: Per Mertesacker
The Arsenal centre-back will be able to make up for his lack of pace with his tackling against this Portugal side.

RB: Phillip Lahm
Arguably the best defender in the world, as well as one of the most versatile players in the world. The Bayern Munich captain will be all over the pitch tomorrow contributing at both ends.

MC: Toni Kroos
One of the best young midfielders in the game, the Bayern Munich man should be a very creative playmaker tomorrow against Portugal.

MC: Bastian Schweinsteiger
The Bayern Munich vice-captain will be the defensive rock in midfield for Germany tomorrow.

AML: Lukas Podolski
The Arsenal winger will be very good at putting in crosses for Germany tomorrow. His crosses will trouble the Portugal defense.

AMC: Mesut Ozil
Ozil must bounce back for Germany after a relatively tough first season for Arsenal. Expect him to do just that.

AMR: Mario Gotze
One of the best young footballers right now, the Bayern Munich forward will play very well tomorrow against Portugal.

FC: Thomas Muller
Another of the best players in the game right now, the Bayern Munich man will set havoc upon the Portugal defense tomorrow with his pace and skill.

PORTUGAL- Paulo Bento



GK: Rui Patricio
The goalkeeper for Sporting in Portugal was a pivotal part of the Lisbon team’s side run to second place in this season’s Primeira Liga. Expect him to be challenged to stop the powerful Germany attack tomorrow, though.

LB: Fabio Coentrao
The Real Madrid man is a decent footballer. He will struggle, though, to keep Mario Gotze at bay tomorrow.

CB: Bruno Alves
The Fenerbache man is always a decent option in the central defensive role. However, he will most likely struggle to stop the strong German attack.

CB: Pepe
After enjoying a successful season with Real Madrid, the centre-back will be looking to emulate that success with Portugal in the World Cup.

RB: Joao Pereira
Expect to see the Valencia man rampaging down the right flank tomorrow and putting crosses into the box.

DM: William Carvalho
One of the most underrated young players in the game, the Sporting man will be looking to make a strong impression in the World Cup.

MC: Raul Meireles
The Fenerbache man is always a good choice for midfield. Expect him to be a defensive rock for Portugal tomorrow.

MC: Joao Moutinho
The young Monaco playmaker will me looking to supply the Portugese attackers with his brilliant passes tomorrow against Germany.

WL: Cristiano Ronaldo
Arguably the best player in the game right now, the Real Madrid man and reigning Ballon D’or winner will easily trouble the German defense tomorrow if fully fit.

WR: Nani
The Manchester United winger will be very good at putting in crosses for Ronaldo and Postiga tomorrow.

FC: Helder Postiga
Expect the Valencia man to play as a secondary attacker to Cristiano Ronaldo tomorrow. He will, however, be a useful attacking choice for Portugal.