Germany v Portugal: Manuel Neuer calls for Germans to use the weight of expectation to their advantage in the hunt for a fourth World Cup

Germany get their campaign underway against Portugal today with hopes of victory in their 100th World Cup match putting pressure on Joachim Low's side to win

Manuel Neuer wants Germany to use the weight of expectation to their advantage when they take on Portugal on Monday (Getty Images)

Germany will become the first country to complete a century of World Cup games when they take on Portugal in their opening Group G fixture today but Joachim Low’s men are under pressure to make history of a different kind in Brazil.

You have to go back to Euro 96 for the last time the three-times World Cup winners lifted a trophy and the pressure to end this drought is building, according to Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
“In Germany, the expectation rises as the tournaments go by,” admitted the Bayern Munich player, who hopes it can spur the team to achieve great things. “As far as I am concerned, I need that kind of pressure. I like these large tournaments – they’re the greatest in football history and I believe we are a country that can get the best out of ourselves in a tournament environment. We shouldn’t see it as negative pressure but use fans’ expectations to inspire us.”