So after all the waiting the World Cup finally got underway this afternoon with an excellent and entertaining game seeing the hosts Germany beating Costa Rica by four goals to two.
Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann chose to start without fit again Michael Ballack, feeling his side had enough to get past the South American's, a gamble which proved to be worthwhile, but only after the outsiders gave the host nation a fright with two well taken goals from Paulo Wanchope.
After the opening ceremony which paraded legends of the past including the winning France '98 team and members of all five Brazilian World Cup winning sides, proceedings got under way with the competition that football supporters all across the World had been waiting for.
After a slow start, it was
Seemingly buoyed by their excellent start, the Germans then had a defensive lapse which let in Wanchope to score the first of his two goals. After a clever pass from midfield the former
The Costa Ricans once more tested the German backline but the home side held strong and were quickly able to capitalize on their home advantage through a Miroslav Klose tap in after good work from Schneider and the Germans outstanding player Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The Germans third came just after half time with Klose making the most of a defensive misjudgement after a cross from Lahm. The Werder Brehman striker saw his first well directed header saved but pounced to tap in the rebound from close range.
As the game seemed to be coming to a slow end, another piece of magic from midfield once more left Wanchope bearing down on Lehman's goal, with a re-adjustment and a quick change of feet the tall striker flicked the ball past the despairing goalkeeper making it three two and giving his side a chance to get back into the game.
Pressing for an equalizer
The German team came off the field delighted while