This year’s World Cup opened in a glamorous way with an opening ceremony which was outstanding in every way at Munich Allianz Arena, with Pele, a World Cup winner in 1958, 1962 and 1970, carrying the trophy onto the pitch, and German supermodel Claudia Schiffer at his side. The Greatest Tournament kicked off in a big way with Germany hammering Costa Rica 4-2 in an entertaining fashion in today’s opening clash in Munich. Costa Rica were handed a warning in only the second minute when Frings unleashed an effort from distance that landed on the top of their goal. It was a warning they did not heed. An early strike from Philipp Lahm gave the hosts an early lift in the absence of influential captain Michael Ballack, who was missing through a calf injury. Former Derby, Manchester City and West Ham striker, Paulo Wanchope levelled the scores in the 12th minute. Man-of-the-match, Miroslav Klose, struck in the 17th and 61st minutes before Wanchope punished the shaky German defence for a second time in the 73rd. And this spectacular opener came to a fitting end in the 87th minute as Torsten Frings scored with a 35-yard piledriver that sent the crowd into ecstasy. Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann made his World Cup debut in goal instead of Bayern Munich rival, Oliver Kahn.
Also this evening, Agustin Delgado scored one goal and made another as Ecuador got their second ever World Cup campaign off to a flying start with a 2-0 victory over Group A rivals, Poland, at the Veltins Arena. Poland’s hopes of reaching the second round now look bleak while the Latin Americans will enter uncharted territory if they get into the last 16 in a group also featuring hosts Germany and Costa Rica. Ecuador coach Luis Fernando Suarez vowed to play attractive football and his team has lived up to that pledge.
Tomorrow’s matches promise to be more exciting than today’s with England facing Paraguay, Trinidad sparing off with Sweden and, finally, the match of the day, Argentina battling Ivory Coast in the much acclaimed group of death.
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