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