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Germany opens World Cup with 4-2 win over Costa Rica

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-06-10 09:53

What a start! Germany kicked off the World Cup by beating Costa Rica 4-2 on Friday to make it the highest scoring opener in competition history.

A German supporter celebrates the triumph of the German national soccer team in their opening match of the soccer World Cup against Costa Rica after watching the match on a huge tv screen at a so-called 'fan festival' in Gelsenkirchen, June 9, 2006.[Reuters]

The host nation's performance could inspire the team all the way as it looks to add a fourth World Cup title.

Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann said he was delighted for the fans who saw six goals in the opening game, "but we would have preferred not to have given any away."

"We wanted to play well and get the fans involved. 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 our first three points.

"If the players want to go out tonight and have a beer, they can do it."

Klinsmann was eager for his team to have a good start, especially since it had to play without captain Michael Ballack.

Ballack said he had recovered from a right calf injury, but doctors decided it was too early and risky to have him play.

In his absence, striker Miroslav Klose rose to the occasion of his 28th birthday and scored two goals.

"That's how I imagined this day more or less," Klose said. "Every opener is diffic