Special report: 2006 FIFA World Cup
 |
| Miroslav Klose (R) vies with Costa Rica's
Leonardo Gonzalez during the opening match of 2006 Football World Cup in
Munich, Germany on June 9, 2006. Germany won 4-2. (Xinhua
photo) |
MUNICH, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Miroslav Klose
celebrated his 28th birthday with two goals as Germany beat Costa Rica 4-2 at
the World Cup opener here on Friday.
Klose, who scored five goals in the last World Cup
four years ago to lead Germany to the final, scored the hosts' second and third
goals.
Klose, who was voted Player of the Match afterwards,
was happy with the two goals.
"I am very lucky today," he said. "I am very happy,
and very proud of the goals."
Germany head coach Juergen Klinsmann was all praise
for the striker.
"Klose has grew to be a leader in the team,"
Klinsmann said. "We are very proud of him as he scored twice on his
birthday."
The hosts went ahead only six minutes into the game.
Left back Philipp Lahm stepped in on to his right foot and unleashes a shot from
the edge of the box which arrows into the top corner for the World Cup's first
goal.
Costa Rica striker Paulo Wanchope made it 1-1 only
six minutes later, beating an offside trap and German goalkeeper Jens Lehmannto
score the equalizer.
Germany retook the lead in the 17th minute. Bastian
Schweinsteiger bursted on to Bernd Schneider's pull back from the byline on the
right and his cross was tapped home by the unmarked Klose.
The first German goal scorer combined with the second
for the third goal for the hosts. Lahm crossed from the left and, after seeing
his initial header parried by Jose Porras, Klose blast home the rebound.
But Costa Rica refused to sit back and wait for a
defeat. Walter Centano opened up the German defence and sent a beautiful chip
into the area, where Wanchope, the most active player throught the match, poked
the ball past Lehmann.
Torsten Frings killed off the game for Germany three
minutes from time as he blast a fierce shot from around 30 meters into the top
corner of the net to make it 4-2.
Klinsmann was not very satisfied with the results
because his side made too many errors but he said that getting three points is
enough for the squad.
"We were a little bit nervous. We made some mistakes,
but they happen," Klinsmann said. "We can draw a lot of positives from this
game. We are happy to have away with our first three points."
Costa Rica coach Alexandre Guimaraes said: "I would
be happier if we had scored one more goal. After the match I am confident that
we can beat Ecuador in the next match. We have a chance."
German captain Michael Ballack sit out the game due
to a calf strain and Bernd Schneider replaced him to wear the skipper's armband.
Germany will play their second Group A match against
Poland on June 15 in Dortmund. Poland will open their campaign against Ecuador
later on Friday.
Klinsmann confirmed that Ballack will be available to
face Poland.
German President Horst Koehler declared the 18th
edition of the World Cup open after a 30-minute opening ceremony. A total of 32
teams are competing in 12 cities of Germany with the finals scheduled in Berlin
on July 9.
"Finally it's starting. We're really looking forward
to four weeks of football, football, football," Koehler told a sell-out crowd of
66,000. Enditem
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