Fine hattrick, awful acting

Pepe of Portugal headbutts Thomas Mueller of Germany resulting in a red card during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between Germany and Portugal. Photo: Getty Images

What a brilliant display of marksmanship by German striker Thomas Mueller! His triple strike reflected the typical grit and guile of a German, whose nerve never frays under any situation. He was always cool, composed and almost mechanical.

Riding on the first hattrick in the World Cup, Germans simply routed their opponents Portugal 4-0 at the stadium where Spain were humiliated by Holland 1-5 last week. Right from the beginning Germans looked rock-solid, as usually they are, showing the famous mechanical precision in their defence, midfield and attack.

The well-oiled German machine of coach Joachim Loew operated in a way that none could feel the presence of the world's best player in the opposition camp. Cristiano Ronaldo-- the highest-earning, pin-up guy of the world football, was made ineffective, absolutely. A team of many stars simply outshone the team of a superstar. 

Thomas Mueller of Germany scores his team's fourth goal and completes his hat trick past Rui Patricio of Portugal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between Germany and Portugal at Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil. Photo: Getty Images

Mueller sparkled most among the German stars. The lanky marksman started off where he left off four years back, where he scored five goals to claim both Golden Boot and best young player award in the World Cup in South Africa. This time, he scored 3 goals already and looked nearly flawless while shooting home from any angle.  

He is a perfect striker for sure but with a horrible acting ability on the field. Muller's reaction to being hit in the mouth by a flailing arm was so over-theatrical that Real Madrid defender Pepe possibly could not ignore. It was his innocent arm, and he knew well how awfully Muller was acting to win a decision against him.

A player as experienced as Pepe should have known better that it was a stupidity of the highest order to go for a confrontation, particularly when Muller could deceive the referee even with his poor acting. Like a man possessed, Pepe charged ahead, taking his argument too far by bending over to push his face into his grounded opponent's to vent his feelings straight down his ear.

It was barely a head-contact, let alone a head-butt. Yet, Mueller's head nearly hit the grass in reaction! However poor the acting was it still scored for Germany. An out-of-control Pepe was sent off eight minutes before the interval, from where things turned from bad to worse for a 10-man Portugal.

Good thing is that Portugal will get a reasonable break of five days to recover from this shock before their match against the USA on June 23. Paulo Bento's men have to pick up the pieces as quickly as possible and Portuguese kingpin Ronaldo has to find the net frequently in the next two matches to move to the next round.

The USA, with a 2-1 win against Ghana, are now aiming higher on the other. And Bento must have been telling his men by now: Only fools take results for guaranteed in a World Cup match!