Germany

The three-time winners had the game in the bag at 2-0 up at half-time – and Tim Cahill was sent off in the 57th minute to end any Socceroos resistance.

Two goals in the space of two minutes put the seal on Germany’s superb performance and made it the worst result in Pim Verbeek’s reign for Australia.

Young German midfield playmaker Mesut Ozil had the Socceroos in disarray throughout the match as he created numerous chances for the forwards.

Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose accepted those chances in the first half, Podolski striking after eight minutes after Ozil found Muller and the winger pulled back for Podolski’s cool finish.

From there it was all Germany, and Mueller created the second after 26 minutes for Klose.

His perfect cross found Klose steaming in ahead of Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to head home for the Germany’s 11th goal in World Cup finals.

Germany could have easily had a third by half-time, but Socceroos skipper Lucas Neill cleared off the line as Ozil threaded a ball past Schwarzer towards goal.

The rout continued after the break as Australia were forced to commit men forward to chase a goal.

Then after Cahill was red-carded by Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez to leave them with 10 men, an inevitable third came as more sparkling German movement led to Muller slotting home in the 68th minute.

Substitute Cacau added a fourth two minutes later set up by Ozil, who was mercifully substituted with 15 minutes remaining to give Australia’s defence some respite.

Germany now sit top of Group D, with Ghana – who beat Serbia 1-0 in Pretoria earlier on Sunday – also on three points (2/9 Germany – Group D winners).

The Socceroos’ next World Cup match is against Ghana in Rustenburg on June 19, which Cahill will now miss because of an automatic one-match ban for his send-off.

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