Group A

Germany 4


16. LAHM Philipp (6')


11. KLOSE Miroslav (17')
11. KLOSE Miroslav (61')


8. FRINGS Torsten (87')

Costa Rica 2

9. WANCHOPE Paulo (12')


9. WANCHOPE Paulo (73')

• Venue: FIFA World Cup Stadium Munich


• Referee: ELIZONDO Horacio


• Temperature: 15°C 59°F


• Conditions: Fair

After a spectacular opening ceremony at the Allianz Arena in Munich, host nation Germany were not about to doze out the celebratory fires which were still burning, the Nationallemanschaft did not disappoint.

As they went in search of three points which would put them on top of the standings in group A, the hosts were off to flying start when Phillip Lahm struck from distance to give them the lead. It did not last long though as Paulo Wanchope than caught the German’s napping and beat the off side trap to level matters twelve minutes into the game.

Germany’s top scorer at the previous FIFA World Cup in 2002 Miroslav Klose than got in on the act scoring a brace, the first coming five minutes after Wanchopes equalizer. After some good work by Bastian Schweinstieger, Klose got on to the end of a cross from the Bayern Munich midfielder and slotted the ball home. He scored his second goal just after the hour mark to give Germany a 3-1 lead which was soon cut down as Paulo Wanchope again made light work of a German defensive lapse to complete his brace.

With time running out Torsten Frings matched Phillip Lahms earlier wonder goal when he too struck a ferocious shot from way out, which Porras in the Costa Rica goal had no chance of stopping. After just one game many would say that Germany already have two contenders for the goal of the tournament award with Lahm’s opening goal and Frings late strike.

German Coach Jurgen Klinsmann pronounced himself satisfied with his teams display and will be hoping for a repeat performance when his team come up against neighbors and close rivals Poland in Dortmund on Wednesday. Victory against the Poles who were defeated in their first game by Ecuador will all bur guarantee Germany’s passage into the next round.

Ernst Middendorp’s Match Review

Germany were given the perfect start following Lahm’s wonder goal early on in the game and I felt they could not have scripted a better opening to their world cup campaign. Unfortunately they let their early lead slip and Costa Rica took full advantage of the opportunity which fell their way and made Germany pay dearly. The German’s could count themselves really luck to have been able to have gone into half time leading this game because the Costa Rican’s were beginning to fight back.

In the second half Germany effectively killed off Costa Rica with a third goal, but I must add that Germany do seem to have a number of problems at the back.

Costa Rica had very few chances and for them to have been able to score two goals should be of a concern to Jurgen Klinsmann.

Something needs to be done to remedy Germany’s leaky defense if they are to go further in the tournament, from what I have seen I would say Germany look like ¼ Final or ½ Final material.