World Cup Germany 2006

Final, Stage 1

Germany vs Costa Rica

Friday June 9th 2006

18.00 GMT

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Last Games

2003/06
Friendly Germany 7 Israel 1
Friendly Germany 4 USA 2
Friendly Germany 0 Argentina 1
Friendly Germany 7 Kuwait 0
Friendly Wales 1 Germany 0
Friendly Germany 6 Austria 2
WC Final (Japan) Germany 0 Saudi Arabia 0
WC Final (Japan) Germany 1 R.Ireland 1
WC Final (Japan) Germany 2 Cameroon 0
WC Final (S.Korea) Germany 1 Paraguay 0
WC Final (S.Korea) Germany 1 USA 0
WC Final S.Korea 0 Germany 1
WC Final (Japan) Germany 0 Brazil 2
Friendly Bulgaria 2 Germany 2
EC2004Q  Lithuania 0 Germany 2
Friendly Bosnia 1 Germany 1
EC2004Q  Germany 2 Faroe Islands 1
Friendly Germany 1 Holland 3
Friendly Spain 3 Germany 1
EC2004Q  Germany 1 Lithuania 1

Friendly Germany 1 Serbia & Montenegro 0

EC2004Q Scotland 1 Germany 1

EC2004Q Faroes Island 0 Germany 2

Friendly Germany 0 Italy 1

Ec2004Q Iceland 0 Germany 0

EC2004Q Germany 2 Scotland 1

EC2004Q Germany 3 Iceland 0

Friendly Germany 0 France 3

Friendly Croatia 1 Germany 2

Friendly  Germany 3 Belgium 0

Friendly Romania 5 Germany 1

Friendly Germany 7 Malta 0

Friendly Switzerland 0 Germany 2

Friendly Germany 0 Hungary 2

EC2004 Portugal Germany 1 Holland 1

Ec2004 Portugal Germany 0 Latvia 0

Ec2004 Portugal Czech Rep. 2 Germany 1

Friendly Austria 1 Germany 3

Friendly Germany 1 Brazil 1

Friendly Iran 0 Germany 2

Friendly Germany 3 Cameroon 0

Friendly Japan 0 Germany 3

Friendly S.Korea 3 Germany 1

Friendly Thailand 1 Germany 5

Friendly Germany 2 Argentina 2

Friendly Slovenia 0 Germany 1

Friendly N.Ireland 1 Germany 4

Friendly Germany 2 Russia 2

C.Cup Germany 4 Australia 3

C.Cup Germany 3 Tunisia 0

C.Cup Germany 2 Argentina 2

C.Cup Germany 2 Brazil 3

C.Cup Germany 4 Mexico 3 AET

Friendly Holland 2 Germany 2

Friendly Slovakia 2 Germany 0

Friendly Germany 4 South Africa 2

Friendly Turkey 2 Germany 1

Friendly Germany 1 China 0

Friendly France 0 Germany 0

Friendly Italy 4 Germany 1

Friendly Germany 4 USA 1

Friendly Germany 7 Luxemburg 0

Friendly Germany 2 Japan 2

Friendly Germany 3 Colombia 0

Head to Head

Germany vs Costa Rica

Bookmakers' odds

Analysis & Previews

Back Germany @ 8/1  to win the World Cup.....2/5 to win Group A...... bet with BLUESQUARE

Back Costa Rica @ 500/1  to win the World Cup.....10/1 to win Group A...... bet with BLUESQUARE

Germany will kick-start the much long waited world's greatest sporting event on home soil, the 18th edition of the World Cup finals against Costa Rica on Friday, as well as bringing an end to a 32-year tradition spanning eight FIFA World Cups™ of the party being launched by the reigning world champions. German coach Jurgen Klinsmann has blended in a host of youngsters, although his squad for this summer's tournament contains ten veterans of the 2002 squad. Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose remain key figures, while Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann pip Oliver Kahn for the No.1 jersey. The heart beat of the German team midfielder Michael Ballack who has been struggling with a calf strain sustained in a recent friendly is ruled out of their World Cup opening match.

Costa Rica have question mark over deputy goalkeeper Mesen, the stand-in for injured first-choice keeper Jose Francisco Porras in their warm-up games, who has picked up a calf strain. At the moment only third-choice shot-stopper Wardy Alfaro has a clean bill of health. Costa Rica finished behind USA and Mexico to reach their third World Cup, having also appeared in 1990 and 2002.

This is a World Cup opener, the pressure with be on the hosts, Germany. Costa Rica play a cautious 3-5-2 formation in a bid to stifle Germany's attack and avoid a heavy defeat. Anything other than a defeat for the Costa Ricans will be a bonus. The Germans are without their midfield kingpin M.Ballack for this match and on a + 1 3/4 ball handicap the visitors are worthy of a bet.

Back Costa Rica on a + 1 3/4 ball in Asian Handicap @ 1.925 with Bet365

Germany: coach Jurgen Klinsmann

Goalkeepers: 1 LEHMANN Jens(Arsenal, ENG), 12 KAHN Oliver(Bayern Munich, GER), 23 HILDEBRAND Timo(VfB Stuttgart, GER)

Defenders: 2 JANSEN Marcell(Borussia Moenchengladbach, GER), 3 FRIEDRICH Arne(Hertha Berlin, GER), 4 HUTH Robert(Chelsea, ENG), 6 NOWOTNY Jens(Bayer Leverkusen, GER), 16 LAHM Philipp(Bayern Munich, GER), 17 MERTESACKER Per(Hanover 96, GER), 21 METZELDER Christoph(Borussia Dortmund, GER)

Midfielders: 5 KEHL Sebastian(Borussia Dortmund, GER), 7 SCHWEINSTEIGER Bastian(Bayern Munich, GER), 8 FRINGS Torsten(Werder Bremen, GER), 13 BALLACK Michael(Chelsea, Eng), 15
HITZLSPERGER Thomas(VfB Stuttgart, GER), 18 BOROWSKI Tim(Werder Bremen, GER), 19 SCHNEIDER Bernd(Bayer Leverkusen, GER), 22 ODONKOR David(Borussia Dortmund, GER)

Forwards: 9 HANKE Mike(Wolfsburg, GER), 10 NEUVILLE Oliver(Borussia Moenchengladbach, GER), 11 KLOSE Miroslav(Werder Bremen, GER), 14 ASAMOAH Gerald(Schalke 04, GER), 20 PODOLSKI Lukas(FC Cologne, GER)
 

Costa Rica : coach Alexandre Guimaraes (Brazilian)

Goalkeepers: 1 MESEN Alvaro(Herediano, CRC), 18 PORRAS Jose(Saprissa, CRC), 23 ALFARO Wardy(Alajuelense, CRC)

Defenders: 2 DRUMMOND Jervis(Saprissa, CRC), 3 MARIN Luis(Alajuelense, CRC), 4 UMANA Michael(Brujas, CRC), 5 MARTINEZ Gilberto(Brescia, ITA), 12 GONZALEZ Leonardo(Herediano, CRC), 15
WALLACE Harold(Alajuelense, CRC), 17 BADILLA Gabriel(Saprissa, CRC), 22 RODRIGUEZ Michael(Alajuelense, CRC)

Midfielders: 6 FONSECA Danny(Cartagines, CRC), 7 BOLANOS Christian(Saprissa, CRC), 8 SOLIS Mauricio(Comunicaciones, GUA), 10 CENTENO Walter(Saprissa, CRC), 14 AZOFEIFA Randall(Saprissa, CRC), 16 HERNANDEZ Carlos(Alajuelense, CRC), 20 SEQUEIRA Douglas(Real Salt Lake, USA)

Forwards: 9 WANCHOPE Paulo(Herediano, CRC), 11 GOMEZ Ronald(Saprissa, CRC), 13 BERNARD Kurt(Puntarenas, CRC), 19 SABORIO Alvaro(Saprissa, CRC), 21 NUNEZ Victor(Cartagines, CRC)

Referee: ELIZONDO Horacio

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