It was the start of something great one year ago today - seven games in the summer of 2014 that brought so much happiness. It began in Salvador with a dream, and ended in Rio with that dream becoming a reality. One year after the triumph at the Maracana, DFB.de takes a look back at Germany’s seven games at the 2014 World Cup. It was 365 days ago, on 16th June 2014, when Die Mannschaft played their first group game against Portugal.
Thomas Müller is one of the best footballers in the world, and as a golfer Thomas Müller is one of the best amongst his fellow footballers. The Germany international does not take his hobby lightly. Before heading to Bayern München’s world-class training facilities each morning, Müller goes to the driving range to practise. He has learnt to play to a high standard with his woods and irons, but it has one drawback: His shots very rarely land in the bunker, and sand traps are something that Müller is good at getting out of. “I prefer hitting out of the bunker,” said the Bayern man one time.
Of course he doesn't. Müller is known for his jokes after all. Nevertheless, he did work on his bunker game at the team’s World Cup training complex in Campo Bahia, trying to improve his already considerably low handicap of 8.6. For him the sand on the beach was one massive bunker, and it wasn't a rare thing to see the striker with a ball and his clubs on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean.
Media go crazy for destructive Müller
It was in no doubt before the first game of the 2014 World Cup, but afterwards you could still say that Müller’s fine tuning in the bunkers hadn’t done any harm to his ability in his regular job. The striker was just as unerring on the green of the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador as he is on the greens of the golf course. Müller scored from twelve yards with a penalty, from twelve yards in open play, and from three yards out. Three of the four Germany goals in that game were netted by the number 13. As for Portugal, they were left empty-handed after a 4-0 defeat.
The headlines belonged to Thomas Müller. The forward scored goals six, seven and eight of his World Cup career. Spanish paper Marca wrote: “Cristiano’s Portugal gets Müllered. Germany waltz on as Müller is the hammer that destroys Portugal.”
Media outlets in France also heaped praise on Müller. Le Parisien wrote: “Germany and Müller slaughter Portugal. There are only two spots between them in the FIFA World Rankings, but they were worlds apart on the pitch.” English newspaper The Times found new appreciation of the Germany forward: “Müller takes centre stage from Ronaldo. Cristiano Ronaldo looks like a superstar. Thomas Müller does not. Ronaldo is a diamond-studded, 24-carat icon, a perfectly groomed, exquisitely conditioned Adonis. Müller looks like he has just woken up.”
Most distance covered in the whole tournament
Müller here, Müller there, Müller everywhere - that’s how it was in Salvador. Aside from his presence on the pitch, Müller was often in the media too. He tried to take the focus off of him, instead thanking the team. He thought that the most important moment of the first game was not the first, third or fourth goal, but was when Mats Hummels made the score 2-0. “Once that goal went in, we saw how united the team was,” said the hat-trick hero from FC Bayern.
After each of his goals, Müller just stood and waited for his teammates to come and celebrate with him. But after scoring the fourth, Müller opted for a sitting-down celebration instead. Muller’s celebrations caught the eye of former Germany international Cacau. He jokingly said after the match: “Thomas needs to work on his celebration; it was not of world-champion standard.”
It was the start of something great one year ago today - seven games in the summer of 2014 that brought so much happiness. It began in Salvador with a dream, and ended in Rio with that dream becoming a reality. One year after the triumph at the Maracana, DFB.de takes a look back at Germany’s seven games at the 2014 World Cup. It was 365 days ago, on 16th June 2014, when Die Mannschaft played their first group game against Portugal.
Thomas Müller is one of the best footballers in the world, and as a golfer Thomas Müller is one of the best amongst his fellow footballers. The Germany international does not take his hobby lightly. Before heading to Bayern München’s world-class training facilities each morning, Müller goes to the driving range to practise. He has learnt to play to a high standard with his woods and irons, but it has one drawback: His shots very rarely land in the bunker, and sand traps are something that Müller is good at getting out of. “I prefer hitting out of the bunker,” said the Bayern man one time.
Of course he doesn't. Müller is known for his jokes after all. Nevertheless, he did work on his bunker game at the team’s World Cup training complex in Campo Bahia, trying to improve his already considerably low handicap of 8.6. For him the sand on the beach was one massive bunker, and it wasn't a rare thing to see the striker with a ball and his clubs on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean.
Media go crazy for destructive Müller
It was in no doubt before the first game of the 2014 World Cup, but afterwards you could still say that Müller’s fine tuning in the bunkers hadn’t done any harm to his ability in his regular job. The striker was just as unerring on the green of the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador as he is on the greens of the golf course. Müller scored from twelve yards with a penalty, from twelve yards in open play, and from three yards out. Three of the four Germany goals in that game were netted by the number 13. As for Portugal, they were left empty-handed after a 4-0 defeat.
The headlines belonged to Thomas Müller. The forward scored goals six, seven and eight of his World Cup career. Spanish paper Marca wrote: “Cristiano’s Portugal gets Müllered. Germany waltz on as Müller is the hammer that destroys Portugal.”
Media outlets in France also heaped praise on Müller. Le Parisien wrote: “Germany and Müller slaughter Portugal. There are only two spots between them in the FIFA World Rankings, but they were worlds apart on the pitch.” English newspaper The Times found new appreciation of the Germany forward: “Müller takes centre stage from Ronaldo. Cristiano Ronaldo looks like a superstar. Thomas Müller does not. Ronaldo is a diamond-studded, 24-carat icon, a perfectly groomed, exquisitely conditioned Adonis. Müller looks like he has just woken up.”
Most distance covered in the whole tournament
Müller here, Müller there, Müller everywhere - that’s how it was in Salvador. Aside from his presence on the pitch, Müller was often in the media too. He tried to take the focus off of him, instead thanking the team. He thought that the most important moment of the first game was not the first, third or fourth goal, but was when Mats Hummels made the score 2-0. “Once that goal went in, we saw how united the team was,” said the hat-trick hero from FC Bayern.
After each of his goals, Müller just stood and waited for his teammates to come and celebrate with him. But after scoring the fourth, Müller opted for a sitting-down celebration instead. Muller’s celebrations caught the eye of former Germany international Cacau. He jokingly said after the match: “Thomas needs to work on his celebration; it was not of world-champion standard.”
With a rather reserved celebration, you could have been left thinking that Muller wanted to save some energy. Yet again, you can’t say that he didn't do enough running. Müller covered almost 84 kilometres throughout the whole tournament, more than anyone else. It's an unbelievable amount, especially considering the rather challenging climate conditions at the various venues in Brazil.
"Each goal was nicer than the last”
He “held back” in the match against Portugal, covering just 10.6 kilometres, which was surprisingly his lowest tally of the tournament. It didn't affect his goalscoring prowess through: “Each one was nicer than the last”.
Another classic Müller joke. His goals were in fact a spot kick and two tap-ins. Müller came away from the game with a B for his performance - not exactly a high mark, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was the three goals, and most importantly the three points. “A good start is very important. It relieves the pressure and gets you off the mark,” said Müller.
Back then, Müller could have only hoped that his team would go all the way. With one game down, the Germany camp had a very happy Thomas Müller, who for the time being was able to carry on fine tuning his golfing skills on the beach in front of Campo Bahia in between training sessions.
