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Germany kick off their campaign today aiming to continue their domination of Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal at recent major tournaments.
The Germans enjoyed wins over Portugal at the 2006 World Cup, plus both of the last two European championships and want to get their group G campaign off to a flying start with a fourth consecutive win.
The Salvador clash is a rerun of Portugal's Euro 2012 opener against Germany, when they went down 1-0 to a second-half Mario Gomez goal.

	This isn't Germany against Ronaldo, but Germany against Portugal

	Benedikt Hoewedes
The prematch build-up in Salvador has focused on whether or not Ronaldo will be fit to play at the Arena Fonte Nova after a knee and thigh injury.
The 29-year-old took a full part in Portugal's training session on Saturday with teammates William Carvalho and goalkeeper Eduardo both saying he will play.

 
Eduardo insists the Portugal squad are highly motivated to erase memories of a "disastrous" 2010 campaign, which ended in the last 16 at the hands of eventual winners Spain.
But all eyes have been on the recovery of the World Player of the Year, despite Ronaldo's return to play 65 minutes of Portugal's final warm-up in their 5-1 drubbing of Ireland.
The Real Madrid forward, whose form and fitness will be vital to Portugal's chances, has had a heavy strapping on his knee in training.
But as Germany defender Benedikt Hoewedes said: "This isn't Germany against Ronaldo, but Germany against Portugal." 
Germany midfielder Sami Khedira claims his Real Madrid teammate has told him this is Portugal's time to break their German bogey.
Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski said the Germans respect dead-ball specialist Ronaldo, but there was no fear.
"We have prepared ourselves to play Portugal and not just one player," said Podolski, who is set to win his 115th cap.
"He is certainly extremely dangerous and can decide games, but we also have players capable of doing that. If we produce a good performance, then it doesn't matter what he does."
The million-dollar question is whether Germany can recreate their standard from four years ago when they finished third after hammering Argentina and England en route.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is set to play, but has laboured with injury to his right shoulder while vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger is struggling for fitness after tendinitis of the knee.

His defensive midfield partner Khedira has spent most of the season on the bench at Real Madrid after a serious knee injury.
Coach Joachim Loew has only one striker in his squad with 36-year-old Miroslav Klose just one short of equalling Ronaldo's all-time record of 15 goals at World Cup finals.
Arsenal's attacking midfielder Mesut Ozil is set to be pushed up front as a "False Nine" with Bayern Munich's Toni Kroos taking over in central midfield.
One factor that could play into the hands of Paulo Bento's fleet-footed Portuguese is Loew's decision to move captain Philipp Lahm from right back into the midfield.
Loew is set to play four centre backs with Mats Hummels partnering Per Mertesacker with Jerome Boateng and Hoewedes used as wing-backs.
Podolski jumped to the defence of his under-fire Arsenal teammate Ozil.

Ozil has suffered a drop in form this season and former Germany captain Michael Ballack has been critical, saying he has looked "lost" on occasion since joining Arsenal from Real Madrid.
Podolski said the German media should get off Ozil's back.
"Mesut has the quality. He is a world-class player and will bring us plenty of joy in the shirt," Podolski said at Germany's World Cup camp.
"You shouldn't write him off, just let the boy play football. He is just the way he is."
Germany are among the favourites to win the World Cup, but Podolski said Spain's shock 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands on Friday served as a warning to other top sides.
"We're concentrating on our group, which isn't straight forward," he said. "Portugal are tough opponents, just like the others, but we want to draw some attention to ourselves with a good result and show we're in form from the beginning."
Germany's chancellor Dr Angela Merkel will be at the match at Salvador's Arena Fonte Nova and Podolski said the players would raise their game.
"It's a motivation and something special," he said when asked about Merkel's frequent visits to watch the German team.
Loew has put his team through their paces at 1pm local time to prepare for the early kick-off in Salvador. Warm temperatures and high humidity are expected, but Podolski said that should not affect the Germans.


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Determined Germans ready to rein in superstar Ronaldo

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (left), whose fitness has been in doubt, in a training session in Campinas ahead of their match against Germany. Photo: Reuters

Germany player Lukas Podolski winks during a news conference in the village of Santo Andre north of Porto Seguro. Photo: Reuters 

Germany's Lukas Podolski (left) and Per Mertesacker warm up during a training session in Santo Andre near Porto Seguro. Photo: AP

Germany midfielders Mesut Ozil (left) and Sami Khedira warm up during training. Photo: AFP  

Sport

Football

Coach Joachim Loew is hoping to dictate terms at start of campaign over fleet-footed Portuguese, who are counting on World Player of the Year
