A red card would have been harsh and the ref was right to keep it in his pocket but there can hardly be much arguing about the penalty. Goetze was being pulled down by the arm the whole way.

His half time charade made me want to through my foot through the TV. I agree Muller was over reacting but jesus christ give it a rest man! I really wish every match was on the beeb

Lucky is hugely subjective. I seem to recall people saying Liverpool were lucky to beat Milan despite hauling themselves back from 3-0 down. I guess Maradona was lucky that none of seven England players got a tackle in etc. etc.

Yes but this particular poster seems to be developing a habbit or writing off every goal as 'lucky.'

For me, luck is when something out of your control goes in your favour. For example, the second Germany goal was a well delivered corner met by a strong header into the net. That wasn't lucky, it was good play. The fact that Portugal didn't mark well is a sign of their defensive frailties rather than a mark of German luck.

I can't believe anyone could say Germany's goals were lucky They simply outclassed Portugal from start to finish.

3 lucky goals and a pen.

A tense match with lots of groans about the ref and then the pen ... all downhill from then and it just got worse . . .
The main reason it was such a bummer is that my daughter and her boyfriend are living here at the moment and he is portuguese.

Germany certainly seem to be on form and any team that plays them won't find it easy.

They certainly are the favourites on the European front. A shame that this game wasn't more competitive though.

Germany will fly to the semi finals and then lose to Italy It's the only team they fear.

World Cup history shows that the teams that start really well fade away and it is the team that gradually improves that tends to win it. Both Brazil and Argentina are examples of those that have won without looking that good so far

In a game like football, you make your own luck by playing well enough to have players in the right place at the right time. Germany made theirs on multiple occasions.

I still can't work out of Germany were just *that* good or if Portugal were just playing really badly. Both teams had quite a few goal shots, but Germany were the only ones with the ability to make it work.

Germany's strength is attack, so if teams play "open" style of football with them, Germany get the opportunity to score many goals. That's why they usually win against teams like Argentina. They have difficulties against teams who play very tight at the back like the Italians.

Portugal were very poor defensively. They were completely unprepared for Germany's aggressive attacking football.

Actually, I think Portugal were terrible in defence, attack and midfield.

Yes, but apart from that....

Repeating it doesn't make it any less stupid.

It felt like wonderful karma to see Pepe get sent off after he fell for the exact same dirty tactics the Portuguese use regularly.
Ronaldo and Rooney comes to mind. Ronaldo wound Rooney up so bad to the point Rooney lost it and was sent off some years back and we were subsequently knocked out.

Its rubbish to blame Ronaldo for what Rooney did. Rooney stamped on a player, that was not Ronaldos fault. To suggest otherwise is pure stupidity.

I have a feeling it was a bit of both, will have to wait for the next match to find out.....

Germany were very efficient.

You need to go back and watch the game. Ronaldo at one point stuck his forehead into Rooney's face. He goaded him throughout the match. They knew full well Rooney had a temper. I never said Rooney wasn't to blame so no stupidity on my part. Rude much?

I said it was karma and used that incident as an example. Made me laugh seeing Portuguese own tactics used against them.