World Cup 2010: Miroslav Klose helps Germany put four past Australia

Germany have once again wasted little time demonstrating why they should always figure prominently when a list of potential World Cup winners is being assembled. This is the sixth successive tournament in which they have won their opening game and they did so in a manner that suggests they must be immune to the nerves that have afflicted other teams in the opening days of the event.

In Durban the damage to Australia was done by goals in the first half from Lucas Podolski and Miroslav Klose, followed after the interval by two from Thomas Müller and the substitute Cacau. Germany tend to be called "efficient", "robotic" or even "dour". They deserve more glowing praise and it would be a good thing for the World Cup as a whole if some of the other countries were to take note and replicate their commitment to attack.

It was also a night that was laced with controversy. Ten minutes into the second half the Australia midfielder Tim Cahill lunged in to try to take the ball from Bastian Schweinsteiger. The tackle was poorly timed and the German went down in a heap but there was audible disbelief in the stadium when the Mexican referee, Marco Rodríguez, showed a red card. Cahill's fate will be considered by a Fifa disciplinary committee and he could conceivably be suspended for two games, if the panel finds him guilty of reckless play. On the evidence of this Australian performance that could mean his World Cup is over.

The Everton player was entitled to be aggrieved but for all his protests there had been a measure of frustration in his challenge. By that stage the night had become an ordeal for Pim Verbeek's side. Australia were obliging opponents and Germany, with Mesut Ozil in irrepressible form, could reflect on a plethora of missed chances. This is their youngest World Cup squad for 76 years and they played with a sense of freedom that is not always associated with them.

Though Klose scored only three times in the Bundesliga last season he has now scored 11 times at the World Cup finalsand can harbour a realistic hope of reach- ing Ronaldo's tournament record of 15. Werder Bremen's Ozil showed why so many clubs, including Manchester City, are monitoring his potential availability. Podolski was excellent and Müller, at 20, played with a composure and an appreciation of the game above his years.

The strange thing was that the Australians, including representatives from Gold Coast United, Sassuolo Calcio of Italy's second division and Hull City, had come tantalisingly close to opening the scoring before most of their opponents had a scuff of dirt on their kit. Unfortunately for Australia, Cahill's header struck his own player, Lucas Neill, and Richard Garcia's attempt to turn in the rebound was blocked by Philipp Lahm.

That was an important moment because Joachim Löw's team were ahead within five minutes. In keeping with the rest of their performance, it was a goal that was classy in its creation and clinical in its execution. Ozil set it up, with a neat turn and a weighted pass behind the Australian defence. Müller was alert and first to the ball and though his cutback went behind Klose the ball fell invitingly for Podolski to demonstrate the power in his left foot. His shot carried too much pace for Mark Schwarzer to keep it out, though the goalkeeper got his hand to the ball.

The direction of play thereafter was almost unrelentingly towards the Australian goal. Ozil's performance was marred only by a yellow card for diving in a tournament that has largely been free of such behaviour. Podolski and Müller menaced on the flanks and Klose should have scored a hat-trick.

As it was, he had to settle for just the 49th international goal of an eccentric career in which his reputation on the world stage has never matched his scoring statistics for his country. As with the first goal, it originated from the right. Lahm, always willing to break from defence, swung over a cross that asked for Klose to get between Schwarzer and Neill and risk getting hurt by a flailing punch. It was a question of the striker's bravery and he duly demonstrated it, winning the ball cleanly and scoring with a header of courage and distinction.

Even with 11 men Australia were floundering but Cahill's dismissal opened more gaps and Germany were dominant. Müller made it 3-0 from the edge of the penalty area, firing in a low right-foot drive that went in off the post, and Cacau had been on the pitch for only a few minutes when he scored the fourth. Again Ozil was prominent, crossing from the left, and Germany won with a panache that has not always been associated with them in the past. Did they miss Michael Ballack? Not at all.