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