| The first game of this years soccer World Cup | | | | side. Wanchope was coolness personified as he |
| surpassed all the previous opening day games, which | | | | advanced, then slotted wide of the advacing Lehmann. |
| are often tepid and tiresome affairs, to produce a truly | | | | 1-1 and the minute Tico's following in the crowd were |
| memorable match. The long awaited World Cup 2006 | | | | now being heard. |
| got under way on a balmy Munich evening with an | | | | Germany again took control of the possession, and |
| enthusiastic but subdued home nation crowd in | | | | were given room to attack down both flanks, with |
| attendance. | | | | Lahm & Schweinsteiger busy down the left, and |
| Germany, efficient in their approach, perhaps | | | | Schneider dangerous wide right. It was from Schneider |
| personified by their typically efficient German coach | | | | that the second came. He recieved the ball out wide |
| Jurgen Klinsman, fielded a regimented 4-4-2 formation, | | | | and was ushered towards the right corner where he |
| perhaps trusting to experience rather than real | | | | had time to pick his pass to an alert Schweinsteiger, |
| endeavour. Notably absent from their side was Michael | | | | whose direct run into the box and cross-shot allowed |
| Ballack, who will make the side stronger when he | | | | an easy tap in for Klose. |
| returns from injury later in the tournament. | | | | Germany, now fully in command, bossed the rest of |
| Costa Rica's formation? Your guess may be as good | | | | the half without creating anything clear cut, although |
| as mine, if you are going for a sort of 3-6-1. A strange | | | | both Podolski and frings tested out the wobbly ball |
| selection from coach Alexandre Guimares. | | | | from distance. The German defence when on the |
| The tension was evidently being felt by the crowd | | | | back foot did look decidedly dodgy, and they were |
| much more than the participants, as right from the | | | | lucky to get a linesmans flag when Wanchope was |
| whistle both sides showed attacking intent. | | | | again through on goal. Surely Guimares would change |
| Centeno showed some neat ball control and surged | | | | things in the second half. |
| forward right through the heart of the German midfield | | | | The second period began with more of the same. |
| in the first minute, only to be stopped illegally by Frings | | | | Podolski went close from the edge of the box in the |
| who was quick to spot the danger. Nothing came from | | | | first minute and set the tone for German dominance. |
| the free kick. | | | | Their midfield continued to roam almost unmolested, |
| Frings then appeared at the other end moments later | | | | with Borowski & Frings becoming more involved, |
| and tested Costa Rican 'keeper Porras with a shot | | | | and Schweinsteiger providing real quality & vision. |
| from distance. Porras was keen to scramble across | | | | The third goal came on the hour from a fine move |
| his goal to get close to the ball, perhaps signifying that | | | | down the left where Schweinsteiger fed Lahm whose |
| he was wary of the new official ball being used by | | | | deflected cross left Marin, who had been easily Costa |
| FIFA for this tournament. It does seem to travel | | | | Rica's best defender, for once flat footed. Klose rose |
| through the air with an irregular flight path. | | | | unchallenged to send a header seemingly goalward. A |
| The German midfield began to take hold of the game, | | | | fine save by Porras only delayed the inevitable as |
| seemingly given space to play by the Costa Ricans | | | | Klose emphatically despatched the rebound. |
| that outnumbered them, and after just 5 minutes the | | | | The crowd now seemed to start enjoying the |
| deadlock was broken. Costa Rica failed to clear from | | | | occasion as much as the German players, and Lahm |
| the edge of their own box, and the ball wormed it's | | | | again caused problems down the left. Klinsmann saw |
| way out to diminutive full back Lahm on the left flank. | | | | the chance to rest some of his players, and started to |
| Lahm swiftly cut in onto his right and unleashed a hefty | | | | make substitutions, Kehl on for Borowski. |
| right foot shot from outside the corner of the box, | | | | Suddenly, against the run of play a precision pass by |
| which curled into the goalie's top left hitting the post on | | | | Centeno unlocked the German defence, and |
| the way. | | | | Wanchope galloped through the gaping hole to put |
| What a goal to open the World Cup scoring. | | | | Costa Rica back in with a shout. Wanchope's finish |
| Germany now took full control of the game, with their | | | | was precision itself with the outside of his right boot. |
| midfield four keeping possession well and looking to | | | | Lehmann stood bemused, as he'd not yet had to make |
| provide the openings for another goal. Scweinsteiger, | | | | a save, but had let in two goals. |
| who was now being givem far too much room to | | | | The expected grandstand finish never came. Costa |
| express himself onm the left, fed a ball inside Klose | | | | Rica never really seemed to have the conviction to |
| who had evaded his marker, but Porras raced quickly | | | | get at Germany and cause an upset. |
| from his line to deter him. | | | | The points were secured in the 87th minute by Frings |
| Then, out of the blue, the German back four were | | | | with an absolute pearl of a strike from all of 30 yards, |
| caught hopelessly flat footed by a Costa Rican | | | | curling away from a desperate Porras into his top left |
| one-two. Wanchope laid off to Centeno, who's | | | | corner. A fitting end to any game, and one which may |
| superbly weighted return ball split the German defence | | | | not be bettered throughout this tournament. |
| wide, with Friedrich three yards adrift on the wrong | | | | Final score: Germany 4 Costa Rica 2. |