FIFA World Cup 2006
It is raining goals in Germany.......
- Miroslav Close celebrates birthday in style
Germany 4 - 2 Costa Rica
Poland 0 - 2 Ecuador
There was revelry. Music and Bavarian dance filled the stadium. There was Pele and the gorgeous Claudia Schiffer. There was colour, it was a riot, a beautiful one. The iconic trophy shone through despite all the glamour and distraction. And then Germany and Costa Rica kicked off a customised Adidas ball that featured the date, venue and teams at play. The FIFA World Cup 2006 was underway, the waiting was finally over.
Jurgen Klinsmann, the German coach had spoken of goals, surely he wasn't talking of Wanchope. In the event, the first match rained goals. There were just nine goals in the last ten inaugural matches, last night there were three in the first 17 minutes, the Argentinean referee blew his long whistle after six had been scored.
Germany controlled the course of play, so much so that one wondered if the Costa Rican midfield was here on vacation. The moment Lahm picked up the ball on the left flank, 25 yards out, there was intent in his eye and the ball made its way to the top right corner even as a diving Porras stretched out to reach it. It was the 6th minute, the spectators in the stadium surely smelt goals. Would Germany run riot? Well, Costa Rica had their answer in Paulo Wanchope that prolific scorer, playing out his international swansong. He beat the offside trap and Jens Lehmann, equalising in the 12th. Match on.
The country was celebrating, would a first match jinx, a la France spoil the party? Miroslav Close turned 28 yesterday, and chose to score his first world cup goal with his foot, the earlier five were all headed in. Germany was back ahead, normal service resumed and the teams went in for half time. Close would score again in the 61st to put his team firmly ahead, the points were taken. Wanchope though had other plans for the evening, he took full toll of the weak German defenses, and with a deft flick of his right foot slotted home. Costa Rica was alive again.
Unfortunately there wasn't adequate support in the midfield for Wanchope, and football is a team sport. The ball was with the Germans all the time. It was only a matter of time. Torsten Frings looped a ball from 30 yards to Porras's left and his outstretched arm was no answer to the curling ball. Just wait till the wizards of the dead ball lay their feet on this Adidas creation. We might have anyway seen one of the better goals of the tournament already.
There is a lot of talk of Brazil being firm favourites, well just consider asking the Polish. Poland was supposed to win a non-descript encounter with Ecuador, after all they came out flying in the qualifiers. As the night wore on, the script changed hue. Ecuador stunned the poles into meek submission, thanks to some brilliant work mainly from Augustin Delgado, who set up the first for Carlos Tenorio and scored the second. They may just need a draw against the softened Costa Ricans to sneak past the Polish into the second round.
Good bye then to a sedate first day at the World Cup. If these two matches are any indication, tune your senses to some attacking football, and a festival of goals. Unless of course, today was a case of the defense lines gone awry.
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