6/9/2006
Annika Breidthardt

MUNICH (Reuters) – The 18th World Cup got off to a thrilling start as hosts Germany defeated Costa Rica 4-2 under clear blue skies on Friday in the highest-scoring opening match in the history of the tournament.

Although deprived of captain Michael Ballack through injury, the Germans triumphed in front of 66,000 fans at Munich's futuristic Allianz Arena, with around a billion more watching on television around the world.

The game passed off with no major security problems, to the relief of organisers. Some 250,000 police officers are tasked with protecting the finals from hooliganism and terrorism.

Friday's Group A game was the first of 64 matches spread around 12 host cities in the month-long tournament, culminating in the final at Berlin's Olympiastadion on July 9.

Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann, under immense pressure from a host nation of 80 million which takes its football seriously, pronounced himself satisfied with his team's start.

"We can take a lot of positive things out of today," he said. "This is fun."

Poland take on Ecuador in the western city of Gelsenkirchen later on Friday in the other Group A game.

Ahead of the opening match, a spectacle of dancers in lederhosen and straw-skirts banged on drums and rang giant cow bells under clear blue skies as an emotional crowd waved flags from the 32 participating countries.

"This is the most beautiful game in the world and I am here at the very start of it," said German fan Klaus Breitmann, draped in his national flag and wearing a black-red-gold wig. "This is the biggest party in the world and I am invited."

Audience figures for the whole tournament, the world's most watched sporting event, are expected to reach nearly 30 billion.

POLICE PLEASED

German and Costa Rican colours dominated central Munich before the first game to the sound of festive football tunes, as fans tucked into Bavarian wurst and beer in the sunshine.

Police said the day had passed off without incident.

"It could not have been any quieter," a spokeswoman said.

The match broke the record for the most goals scored in the opening match of a finals tournament set in the inaugural competition in 1930 when France beat Mexico 4-1.

Germany scored in the sixth minute when fullback Philipp Lahm, after wrong-footing a defender, curled in a magnificent shot from the edge of the box.

Paulo Wanchope equalised before three-times former champions Germany regained the lead in the 17th minute through striker Miroslav Klose on his 28th birthday.

Klose got his second goal in the 61st minute before Wanchope scored again to set up a thrilling finish.

Torsten Frings made the game safe for Germany with a spectacular long-range shot in the 87th minute.

England, Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago, Sweden, Argentina and Ivory Coast are all in action in Saturday's games.

In Frankfurt, thousands of England fans took over a central square in raucous but so far good natured celebrations ahead of their side's match with Paraguay on Saturday afternoon.