5.05pm BST
4 min: Cristiano Ronaldo plays a lovely pass into space on the edge of the German penalty area for Hugo Almeida to run on to. The Portugal striker scuttles along the edge of the area before unleashing a shot. It's on target, but seriously lacking in venom. Manuel Neuer gathers comfortably.
5.04pm BST
3 min: Kroos wins the ball for Germany in midfield and Germany advance. The ball's worked to Mario Goetze on the left-hand side of the penalty area and he takes on and beats Joao Pereira. The Portugal right-back manages to scramble back and retrieve possession.
5.02pm BST
2 min: An excellent run forward by Boateng, who sends in a cross from deep towards Muller. Pepe heads clear and out for a throw-in. Germany win a corner, from which nothing comes.
5.01pm BST
1 min: Thomas Muller seems to be playing as the main forward in the German line-up. For Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo has started on the left, where he'll be attempting to strut his stuff under the watchful eye of Jerome Boateng.
5.00pm BST
And we're off: Germany get the ball rolling in the 1pm sunshine, with the temperature a sweltering 30 degrees celsius. Rather them than me. Prediction time: I'm going for the first draw of the tournament: 1-1.
4.58pm BST
National anthems: The teams are lined up either side of the match officials and Germany's dirge is played first. Next up it's that of Potugal. Raul Meireles, looking resplendent with mohawk and bushy woodsman's beard, looks like a tramp that's just clambered out of a skip.
4.56pm BST
Not long now: The teams are in the tunnel and the camera cuts to Per Mertesacker, another one of football's top blokes, who is staring straight ahead looking pensive. Both teams players are wearing their usual colours. Germany's are in white shirts, shorts and socks, while Portugal are in red shirts, red shorts and red socks. The sizeable Portuguese community in my neck of the woods in Brixton and Stockwell will be sweating bullets at this point. Sweating bullets and lorrying back gallons Sagres and Super Bock.
4.53pm BST
Fabio Cannavaro speaks: He says he thinks Lionel Messi is a better player than Cristiano Ronaldo. And the reason? "His attitude. Because when you kick him he accepts it."
4.51pm BST
An interesting German line-up: Four centre-halves in defence, a full-back in midfield, three False 9's and no strikers. Michael Cox and Jonathan Wilson will be picking over the bones of this one for decades.
4.50pm BST
ITV are covering this match in the UK. Patrick Vieira, Lee Dixon and Fabio Cannavara, who appears to be the world's nicest man, are the pundits joining Adrian Chiles.
4.46pm BST
@bglendenning The piercing eyes of Özil vs the straining neck of Ronaldo - it must be time for #GERvsPOR ! pic.twitter.com/psjyo8cOd1
4.41pm BST
Mercifully, there are no guns on display in this picture from our man in the Salvador press box, Paul Wilson.
Even higher up than last time...#salvador pic.twitter.com/eY94Pk3bgI
4.39pm BST
Good lord ...
Crazy dude points a gun towards the media covering anti-World Cup protest in Rio on Sunday. Photo: Estadão pic.twitter.com/MfngTow10V
4.38pm BST
Portugal tactics: Here's what Coxy had to say about Portugal:
4.30pm BST
Germany tactics: In his tactical preview of the World Cup for The Guardian, this is what Michael Cox had to say about Germany.
4.24pm BST
Those line-ups again, this time with added substitutes.
Germany: 1-Manuel Neuer, 20-Jerome Boateng, 5-Mats Hummels, 17-Per Mertesacker, 4-Benedikt Hoewedes; 6-Sami Khedira, 16-Philipp Lahm; 18-Toni Kroos, 8-Mesut Ozil, 19-Mario Goetze; 13-Thomas Muller
4.21pm BST
Today's referee: This World Cup is Milorad Mazics first major international tournament, although the Serbian official has previously officiated at high-profile youth tournaments. During the 2014 World Cup preliminary competition he oversaw four qualifiers as well as Romania-Greece in the play-offs. At club level his resume includes the first leg of the Europa League semi-final between Fenerbahce and Benfica in 2013. "Im so proud because Im the first referee to represent Serbia after a long period of absence from the World Cup," he said. " I want to give everything for my country.
That's the spirit.
4.16pm BST
Germany: 1-Manuel Neuer, 20-Jerome Boateng, 5-Mats Hummels, 17-Per Mertesacker, 4-Benedikt Hoewedes; 6-Sami Khedira, 16-Philipp Lahm; 18-Toni Kroos, 8-Mesut Ozil, 19-Mario Goetze; 13-Thomas Muller
Portugal: 12-Rui Patricio; 21-Joao Pereira, 3-Pepe, 2-Bruno Alves, 5-Fabio Coentrao; 4-Miguel Veloso, 8-Joao Moutinho, 16-Raul Meireles; 7-Cristiano Ronaldo, 9-Hugo Almeida, 17-Nani
4.11pm BST
3.57pm BST
Today's match: Germany and Portugal meet for the fourth time in five tournaments this afternoon, with Germany having won the three previous encounters at Euro 2012, Euro 2008 and World Cup 2006. As many people's idea of potential tournament winners, it's no surprise that they start as favourites to win this match too.
3.42pm BST
Portuguese national anthem: Here's Felix Buxton from Basement Jaxx on Portugal's anthem.
3.33pm BST
Good afternoon everybody. Welcome to our minute-by-minute coverage of today's Group G encounter between Germany and Portugal, which kicks off in Salvador at 5pm/BST. Between now and then, I'll be posting all sorts of multi-media treats, posting lots of preview material and keeping you informed with all the team news as soon as it arrives. But first a quick safety presentation video and then we can get on with the fun.
Continue reading... |
| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.theguardian.com |