Three-time world champions Germany warned doubters they are real title contenders on Sunday with a 4-0 victory over 10-man Australia for the perfect start to their 2010 World Cup campaign.
Man of the Match Lukas Podolski struck in the eighth minute and Miroslav Klose snapped out of his slump with Germany’s second goal in the 26th minute.
Australian Tim Cahill was sent off in the 56th minute for a reckless tackle and effectively ended any chance of an Australian comeback.
Thomas Mueller made it 3-0 in the 68th minute and Cacua put the icing on the cake for the Germans by adding a fourth in the 70th minute.
The victory — Germany’s sixth straight to start a World Cup — pushed Joachim Loew’s men atop Group D on goal difference ahead of Ghana.
“We had some luck at the beginning, and you can tell that we are a young team. But we found our game and showed that we have good quality,” German captain Philipp Lahm said.
At Durban Stadium, German hearts were racing after just three minutes on a corner kick, which Cahill headed towards Manuel Neuer’s goal.
The attempt went off Australia’s Lucas Neill and Richard Garcia’s rebound shot was stopped on the goal line by Philipp Lahm.
The favourites had their first chance four minutes later on a counter-attack, but Klose’s shot was too centrally located to beat Aussie keeper Mark Schwarzer.
Germany, however, grabbed the lead in the eighth minute after some fine passing. Mueller ran down Mesut Oezil’s pass into the right side of the area and crossed back to the left side where Podolski was waiting to unleash a left foot blast from 12 yards which Schwarzer could not deflect away.
The Germans dominated ball possession thereafter, continually looking for the holes in the Aussie midfield and backline to attack.
The much-criticised Klose made good from the air in the 26th, heading home from eight yards Lahm’s cross from the right wing.
It was the 11th World Cup goal for Klose, who had struggled all season at his club Bayern Munich as well as in the preparations and had not scored for Germany since October 2009.
Australia went a man down in the 56th minute when Cahill was given his marching orders by Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez for his attack on Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Youngster Mueller matched the veteran Klose’s goal in the 68th after a fine rush forward by Podolski, who passed over to Mueller. The 20-year-old Bayern talent then beat Schwarzer off the left post.
Cacau joined the scoring party in the 70th minute with Holger Badstuber sending down the left wing Oezil, who found the Brazilian-born striker in the middle for the easiest of goals.
— DPA