Live Ticker: Germany 4 : 2 Costa Rica

Welcome to the World Cup Kick-Off!!
The wait is over. Germany, the host nation, finally makes good on all the promises and delivers the globe's most prestigious soccer event to the world.

The FIFA World Cup Stadium München plays host to the opening game between Jürgen Klinsmann's Germany and Central American hopefuls Costa Rica.
Stay tuned for all the action as the World Cup action unfolds here with DW-WORLD.DE's Live Ticker

Less than 45 minutes to go!
The capacity crowd in the FIFA World Cup Stadium München has already enjoyed a spectacular opening ceremony with traditional Bavarian dancers and a host of international stars.

Stars from the history of the World Cup have also been paraded in front of the expectant fans as the clock ticks down to kick-off

Team line-ups announced
The teams have been announced and there is no place in the Germany team for the injured Michael Ballack. Tim Borowski takes his place in midfield and Bernd Schneider takes over the captaincy.

Germany: LEHMANN Jens, FRIEDRICH Arne, SCHWEINSTEIGER Bastian, FRINGS Torsten, KLOSE Miroslav, LAHM Philipp, MERTESACKER Per, BOROWSKI Tim, SCHNEIDER Bernd (C), PODOLSKI Lukas, METZELDER Christoph

Costa Rica: PORRAS Jose (C), MARIN Luis, UMANA Michael, MARTINEZ Gilberto, FONSECA Danny, SOLIS Mauricio, WANCHOPE Paulo, CENTENO Walter, GOMEZ Ronald, GONZALEZ Leonardo, SEQUEIRA Douglas

Klinsmann sticks with winning line-up
Germany coach Jürgen Klinsmann has gone with the same team -- minus Ballack -- who dispensed with Costa Rica's Central American counterparts Colombia 3-0 in Germany's last test game With Lehmann in goal, the back four remains Arne Friedrich, Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder. The midfield consists of Schweinsteiger, Frings, Schneider and Borowski while Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose start up front.

The crowd awaits the teams
The German and Costa Rican teams are lining up in the bowels of the stadium, ready to exit to what is expected to be a deafening reception in Munich as they prepare to get the 2006 FIFA World Cup underway. The stadium is a sea of colors and a cauldron of song as the flags of the teams are brought out onto the pitch precipitating the arrival of the teams.

The teams exit to rapturous applause
Germany and Costa Rica come out onto the prestine pitch as the World Cup gets ready to get underway. The Costa Rican national anthem sounds out with enthusiastic singing from the team and their supporters. The German anthem is belted out by the host team and the fans respectfully join in. It is a more solemn chorus than the preceding anthem but one of pride as Germany prepares to host the greatest soccer show on earth.

1. min.
The 2006 World Cup gets underway
Costa Rica kicks off to begin the first game in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

1. min.
An early surge through the midfield from Costa Rica results in the first free kick.

1. min.
The free kick is chipped inot the far post but its too long for the striker Centeno.

2. min.
Germany get their first chance to build an attack on the left flank with Schweinsteiger and Lahm working well. A hard tackle from Marin ends their progress.

2. min.
Frings long range effort flies just over
Germany build from the midfield and the ball falls to Frings who rifles in a dipping long range shot which just flies over.

6. min.
GOAL GERMANY!!

6. min.
Philipp Lahm curls in a beauty
Left-back Philipp Lahm cuts in from the flank, drops his shoulder and fires a curling long range effort over Porras into the far right hand corner. A great opening goal!

9. min.
Germany are running riot over the Costa Rica with Schweinsteiger and Lahm ripping the left hand side to pieces.

9. min.
Germany are running riot over the Costa Rica with Schweinsteiger and Lahm ripping the left hand side to pieces.

9. min.
Germany are running riot over Costa Rica with Schweinsteiger and Lahm ripping the left hand side to pieces.

9. min.
Germany are running riot over Costa Rica with Schweinsteiger and Lahm ripping the left hand side to pieces.

9. min.
Klose closes in on goal
A lovely through ball from Borowski almost gets Klose in but Porras rushes out of the goal to smother the shot and beat the ball away.

12. min.
GOAL COSTA RICA

12. min.
Wanchope beats the offside trap
Germany were left calling for offside but Wanchope gathers the ball and sweeps it past Lehmann.

17. min.
GOAL GERMANY
Klose gathers a cut back from Scweinsteiger to sweep Germany back into the lead!

18. min.
Great work from Germany for the goal
Bernd Schneider laid a lovely ball back from the right flank to catch Schweinsteiger's run into the box and the clever ball to Klose left the striker with the easy task to knock in Germany's second.

20. min.
Podolski fires in a rocket
Lukas Podolski looks to increase the lead by rifling in a 20 meter shot which Porras fails to hold at the first attempt. He gathers at the second and the danger passes.

24. min.
Despite being two-one down, the Costa Ricans are battling hard. Germany are faster on the break and looking dangerous but the hosts are having to defend staunchly as Costa Rica continue to threaten.

27. min.
Again Schweinsteiger is played in by Schneider. The winger dances past one challenge and threads a ball to Borowski in the box. His shot is blocked at the last minute.

29. min.
Danny Fonseca gets the first card

29. min.
Costa Rica's midfielder gets booked for a harsh challenge on Borowski.

35. min.
Costa Rica try and beat the offside trap again as they did on their first goal but this time the flag rules against the attempt on goal.

41. min.
Schweinsteiger whips in a low corner from the right which evades everyone except Christoph Metzelder at the far post. He waves a boot at the ball and it balloons over the bar. An attacker in the same position may have made it 3-1.

45. min.
Half-time sounds with Germany out on top
Half-Time: Germany go into the break in control of the game by way of goals, possession and chances. Costa Rica look to have run out of ideas but there is still a whiff of danger in their attacks. There could well be more goals in this game for both sides.

45. min.
Second half: Germany kick off
The second half gets underway with Germany leading Costa Rica 2-1. The host nation look to capitalize on their showing at the end of the first period and sew the game up. Costa Rica will be looking for a way back into the match.

45. min.
Germany start by firing in a rising shot from Tom Borowski just over the bar within seconds of the restart.

50. min.
Germany continue to push forward and are frustrating the Costa Ricans. A chipped cross from Schneider is headed just wide by Borowski.

55. min.
Klinsmann gets David Odonkor and Oliver Neuville warming up on the sidelines as he considers his options. Concentration seems to be slipping with some of the Germany players and they have been forced into mistakes by the Costa Ricans in the past five minutes.

60. min.
GOAL GERMANY

60. min.
Klose follows up to make it 3-1
Lahm sends over an out-swinging cross which Klose heads goalwards. Porras saves but Klose follows up and lifts the ball over the keeper and into the roof of the net.

65. min.
Germany are coasting now with a two-goal cushion but look to score more goals and kill the game off. Paulo Wanchope is a lone figure as Costa Rica gets everyone behind the ball.

67. min.
Costa Rica bring on Jarvis Drummond for Gilberto Martinez.

69. min.
Philipp Lahm is having an enjoyable afternoon on the left flank. The left back races past two defenders on the wing, cuts inside before bearing down on goal. He tries to poke the ball under Porras but gets no power and the keeper saves easily.

71. min.
Sebastian Kehl enters the fray
Klinsmann takes off the hard-working Borowski for Sebastian Kehl to freshen the midfield.

72. min.
GOAL COSTA RICA

72. min.
Wanchope gets his second
Paulo Wanchope gets his and Costa Rica's second as confusion reigns in the German defense. Wanchope slips through the two central defenders to recieve a lofted ball and hesitates slightly before stroking the ball past Jens Lehmann who stays rooted to the spot.

78. min.
Costa Rica substitution
Mauricio Solis comes off for Bolanos as Costa Rica look to stage a shocking comeback.

78. min.
Two-goal Klose comes off
Oliver Neuville comes on for Germany's two-goal hero Miro Klose.

80. min.
Germany want the game won and Per Mertesacker thumps a header straight at Porras as the hosts search for a way to kill off the resurgent Costa Ricans.

85. min.
Schneider loses position in the box and is lucky not get booked for the dive that follows. The advantage is played to Costa Rica and the counter-attack begins.

86. min.
GOAL GERMANY

86. min.
Frings lets rip from 40 meters!
An absolute rocket from Torsten Frings puts the game beyond Costa Rica's reach with a monster shot which flie into the top right hand corner from 40 meters out. Schweinsteiger played the ball square into the midfielder's path and he hit it on the run.

90. min.
Germany substitution
David Odonkor comes on for Bernd Schneider

90. min.
Costa Rica substitution
Azofeifa comes on for Gomez.

90+3. min.
Germany win the opening game
The whistle goes and Germany wins the match 4-2 and starts the 2006 World Cup in style.