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After 847 World Cup qualifying matches, Costa Rica set the ball rolling on Friday at 18:00CET. Following an opening ceremony that featured great players from winning nations past, the crowd erupted as the game between Germany, the host country and Costa Rica began. Six minutes after kick-off, Germany’s full-back Philip Lahm scored the first goal of a battled match that ended up with a 4-2 score for Germany.
After the first goal, Costa Rica reacted immediately and six minutes after Germany’s goal, Paulo Wanchope scored the 1 – 1 for his country. The goals do kept coming when in less than five minutes later Miroslav Klose scored the second goal for Germany. At the 31st minute, Danny Fonseca (Costa Rica) picked up the first booking of the tournament when the Argentinean referee Horacio Marcelo Elizondo showed the player the yellow card. Germany strengthened its lead when in the 60th minute, the first German goalscorer combined with the second for the third goal for the host nation. Philip Lahm crossed from the left and Miroslav Klose scored.
The match was not yet over and Costa Rica showed its tenacity when Paulo Wanchope again scored the 5th goal of the match, the second for his country at the 72nd minute. Costa Rica’s high spirits and hopes to get the score even were turned down when Torsten Frings fired in from 35 yards securing Germany’s victory at the Allianz Arena five minutes from the 90th. Germany took home its first three points in its round.
During the opening ceremony, the host nation chose to portray both traditional and modern aspects of its character, with a mix of Bavarian folk musicians and rappers sharing the same stage.
Then, Munich school kids rolled out the red carpet, while a huge flag bearing a child’s drawing was let down onto the field in a symbolic message of welcome to visitors from all over the world. Drummers performed on percussion instruments from every corner of the globe while 24 women in costumes and borne aloft by six bearers apiece, represented the six regions of the football world.
Top model Claudia Schiffer and Brazil legend Pele brought the FIFA World Cup Trophy at the stadium followed by 170 former FIFA World Cup winners entering the Arena. Meanwhile, video screens showed the most memorable scenes from previous tournaments.
German Federal President Horst Köhler officially declared the 2006 FIFA World Cup open.
More than three million people are expected to attend the quadrennial soccer championship, and billions more will watch on television. Thirty-two countries are competing in the tournament over the next month. In total there will be 64 games in 31 days, concluding with Final in Berlin on 9 July.
International media said that in Munich, streets were packed Friday with fans bedecked in Germany's black, red and gold. Some wrapped themselves in the national flag, others wore caps, leis and painted faces. Scores more wore plastic replicas of German spiked World War I helmets painted either with the national colors or as soccer balls.
Those without tickets watched at organized outdoor viewing points, as well as the city's many beer gardens, pubs and restaurants. International media said that though there were no signs of hooliganism, police weren't taking chances — 2,800 officers were on hand on Friday.
Associated Press reported that in a special pre-Cup service in the southern city's famous Frauenkirche cathedral — where German-born Pope Benedict XVI once presided as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Cardinal Friedrich Wetter prayed with hundreds of fans for a "festival of peace and friendship". He added that "Only a few can play on the field, but we can all participate with our hope and joy," he told worshippers from an altar behind a giant white soccer ball. "Only one team can be world champion, but the greatest achievement is when the games are played peacefully and joyfully".
The other opening day match on Friday is Poland vs. Ecuador which kicks off at 21:00CET.
MaltaMedia is covering the World Cup from a Maltese perspective. Throughout the four-week football festival MaltaMedia is providing the fixtures, latest scores, news from a Maltese perspective, personal blogs from MaltaMedia OnLine Network team members and other content.
The MaltaMedia World Cup feature can be accessed here.
See also:
World Cup feature on MaltaMedia
by MaltaMedia News - Jun 4, 2006
© Copyright 2006 - MaltaMedia Online Network
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