From Behind the Stumps

Friday, June 09, 2006

Day 1: Germany vs. Costa Rica; Ecuador vs. Poland

What a start to the World Cup! Absolutely stunning and amazing! Six goals in 90 minutes and a total of eight goals on the opening day. The opening game had a record six goals scored in total as the home team comfortably notched a victory in Munich, elsewhere in Gelsenkirchen Ecuador posted comfortable win over the hapless Poles.

Germany vs. Costa Rica

Philipp Lahm 6'
Paulo Wanchope 12', 73'
Miroslav Klose 17', 61'
Torsten Frings 87'

The German's kick-started their campaign for a fourth title with a bang, and oh what a bang it was; more like a sonic boom. The new look Germany sent off alarms in the early minutes of the first half as a long range attempt by Torsten Frings went excruciatingly close over the bar. Moments later the Germans broke the deadlock through a stunning shot by Philipp Lahm as he sent a blistering kick from the to pedge of the box into the top far post, as the helpless Jose Porras' dive went in vain. Nothing could be done about a shot like that. The home crowd bouyed to their feet by the early breakthrough was sent into a deafening silence as Paulo Wanchope weaved his way through the German back line as he received a crisp pass from Ronald Gomez. The south americans had picked up a weakness in their formidable opponents and sent the warning that they were not to be taken lightly. No sooner had the crowd fell silent, did birthday boy Miroslav Klose put the Germans ahead before the half. Bernd Schneider found Bastian Schweinsteiger who surreptitiously fed Klose the ball only needing to tap the ball in to take the lead. Just before the midway whistle Lukas Podoloski had a chance to further the lead through a freekick from an ominous position only to see the ball sail inches over the post. 2-1 was the scoreline before the half.

The Costa Ricans came out with a vengeance to cut the lead when Danny Foncesca, who was earlier cautioned, headed a cross only to see the ball comforably pass the far post. Lahm was again in the midst as he crossed from the left flank to Klose who headed the ball only for his attempt to be spoiled by keeper Porras, no sooner had he saved the ball that Klose pounced on the rebound and comfortably netted the ball to celebrate his 28th birthday in grandiose style. Wanchope found his second of the match as he once again foiled the offside trap, but this time it seemed as if he was in an offisde position, and it was now 3-2 to Germany. The game looked to be heading to a comfortable victory for the home side until the 87th minute when Torsten Frings assured his side the win with a scorcher of a kick from 30 yards as his shot burnt blasted through and away from the diving Porras.

The final scoreline of 4-2 seemed to be vindication for Juergen Klinsmann's unorthodox and controversial tactics as his team posted an exciting but more importantly a crucial victory. Germany would definitely need to work on their defence somewhat more to prevent the scathing criticism from most of the German press and critics. The good thing for the Germans is the coming of age of their attack headed by Schweinsteiger, Klose and Podoloski who threatened the Costa Rican defence time and time again. The host nation can take heart in the performance of Frings who turned out to be a key component in this match-up, but they still need to work more on their defence. After today's performance, Costa Rica seem poised to advance to the next round with the German's, they played very well keeping the German's on their toes on occasion finding them leaded-foot as well, as they saw veteran Wanchope strike pair.


Ecuador vs. Poland

Carlos Tenorio 24'
Agustin Delgado 80'

The second game did not produce as many goals as the first one but it did produce a welcome performance by Ecuador in the battle of the minnows of Group A. Poland were heavy favourites in this fixture but Ecuador quickly showed that they ought to be taken seriously as they produced the first upset of the 18th edition of the FIFA World Cup. Early on neither team pressed the advantage as both looked tentative and unsure but that soon changedin the 24th minute as Carlos Tenorio headed a ball that began from the sidelines off a De La Cruz throw-in which was flicked by Delgado to Tenorio who then clinically finished the play to take the lead. After that goal Ecuador, showed tight defense as they shut out the much fancied Poles for the remainder of the half and did not let them through except on a single occassion and right after the break the Poles got an apparent goal only to be disallowed by the linesman. It all ended in the 80th minute when substitute Ivan Kaviedes, fed the ball to Delgado who beheld an open goal and softly guided the ball into the zone to take the lead in the 80th minute. In the dying minutes the Poles came excruciatingly close to equalising as they hit the woodwork twice.

The Poles had it all wrong from the start fielding the lone striker against a tough defense, was a sure recipe for failure. Ebi Smolarek was promoted to the frontlines after the half to give Maciej Zurawski some support but to no avail. In the end the Ecuador defence displayed total discipline and concentration under pressure but both these teams will be put to the test in their next games. Let's wait and see.

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