Germany sweep past Socceroos

Germany got their World Cup campaign off to a flying start with a resounding 4-0 win over 10-man Australia in Durban.

Lukas Podolski opened their account in the eighth minute before veteran Miroslav Klose doubled the lead before the half-hour mark. The Socceroos showed more determination after the re-start but saw their challenge take a fatal hit when Tim Cahill was shown a straight red card in the 56th minute following a foul on Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Thomas Muller added Germany's third in the 68th minute before substitute Cacau got an easy tap-in less than two minutes after coming on as a substitute.

The result lifted Joachim Low's side top of Group D alongside Ghana, who beat Serbia 1-0 earlier in the day.

The Germans quickly got into their stride with an unmarked Klose surging inside the area and hitting a right-footed strike towards the centre of goal which the Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer parried away.

Podolski made no mistake seconds later. He got behind Muller's pull back from the right and drove the ball in from 15 yards. Schwarzer managed to get a touch on the ball but it went in.

Klose extended his team's lead in the 26th minute after sloppy defending by Australia. Schwarzer came off his line and got to Klose just as the striker headed home from Philipp Lahm's cross from the right.

Australia's hopes nose-dived when Cahill was shown a straight red card for a tackle from behind on Schweinsteiger.

With one man short, Australia struggled to stop Germany's advances and conceded shortly after the hour mark. Muller got away from his marker before lashing home a shot in off the post.

Australia had little time to react as Germany struck again two minutes later. Mesut Ozil surged down the left and cut it back for the Brazilian-born striker to hit it past Schwarzer.