Werder Bremen stars Miroslav Klose and Torsten Frings played a major roll in helping Germany to a 4:2 win against Costa Rica in the opening game of the World Cup getting three of the four goals. 64,950 euphoric fans watched on in Munich's World Cup stadium as birthday boy Klose grabbed a brace (17', 61') and Torsten Frings finished off the scoring with a belter from all of 30 yards (87'). Left full-back Philipp Lahm had given the host nation an early lead but Paulo Wanchope managed to equalise for the 'Tico's' six minutes later. Wanchope got his second of the evening in the 73rd minute to reduce the deficit to 3:2 but it wasn't enough to shock Jürgen Klinsmann's men.

Miroslav Klose's double strike gave Germany a dream start to World Cup 2006. But Jurgen Klinsmann's side were given a real scare as Paulo Wanchope struck twice for the Ticos in an opening game thriller.And if this match in Munich was a taste of what's to come then we are in for a real treat.Despite leaking two goals, the Germans are now in pole position in Group A and Klinsmann was delighted with the result.He said: “We can be satisfied. It was important to get three points in an attractive game. We succeeded and we are satisfied. There was a certain amount of tension and this led to mistakes with the two goals.“But we have seen an extraordinary game for the opening of a World Cup. It was spectacular.”

The Germany coach played down talk of a rift with Michael Ballack after the skipper was rested as a precaution.Klinsmann added: “The decision to leave out Ballack was a normal one for the coach. He said he was ready and could definitely play but we had a scan and saw some injury on his leg. We will never take a risk. We will build him up slowly and surely.“It is not a problem if a player says he wants to play. It was the opening match - very special. Doctors have been working on him and he is raring to go.“But we had to tell him we were responsible for the whole team. We would have been devoid of responsibility if we had let him play. I took the decision on behalf of Michael himself.”

For Costa Rica the defeat makes qualification for the knockout phase difficult but manager Alexandre Guimares was upbeat.He said: “We still have matches to play and we can win points. We have enormous hope that the team will improve.“The team got two goals at a very high level and our attitude was good.“We wanted to play a more balanced match but Germany were very tough.“The difference was that the German team at the psychologically important points were able to impose their power. But I think we have a good chance against Ecuador and Poland.”Germany made a sensational start, even without Ballack.

With only six minutes gone Philipp Lahm picked the ball up wide on the left and cut inside before letting fly with a vicious 25-yard right-footer which beat Costa keeper Jose Porras and crashed in off the far post.Bernd Schneider blasted over the bar three minutes later as the hosts threatened to run riot.But they were given a shock on 12 minutes by former Derby and West Ham striker Paulo Wanchope.Germany's two centre-backs pushed up and appealed for offside as Ronald Gomez threaded a ball through the centre.But right-back Arne Freidrich was snoozing and stayed back to allow Wanchope a clear run through the middle.The gangly-legged striker can look clumsy, but he kept his cool to run on and steer a fine finish inside the post.The Ticos were only on terms for five minutes. Schneider played the ball short to the superb Bastian Schweinsteiger who foxed two defenders with an excellent dummy. The Bayern man surged into the box and fired a pass to the back post where in-form Klose had the simplest of tap-ins.Porras looked a suspect shot-stopper and he struggled to parry Schweinsteiger's long-range effort.

Danny Fonseca became the first player booked in this year's World Cup after a foul on Lukas Podolski.But the Costas still looked a threat against the suspect German rearguard and only an offside flag saved the hosts when Wanchope looked to have wriggled clear again from Walter Centeno's pass.Germany could have doubled the lead in the 43rd minute as defender Christoph Metzelder connected with a right-wing corner but fired over from a narrow angle.

Klinsmann's men came out in determined mood after the break and looked eager to kill the game off.Podolski fired over from distance and should have done better with a flicked header after Torsten Frings had been given ages to pick out his man from a short corner.But the third was coming and it went to Klose just after the hour.Lahm again had far too much time on the left. His cross was deflected to the far post where Klose's diving header forced Porras into a stunning save by the foot of his post.The ball ricocheted back out to Klose and the Werder Bremen frontman calmly lobbed in his second of the match.The Germans thought they were safe, but they were given another wake-up call 17 minutes from time.A lovely passing move ended with a deft ball from Centeno parting the German defence again and once more Wanchope gave Jens Lehmann no chance.Back came the Germans. Defender Per Mertezacker met a right-wing corner with a thumping header but Porras made an over-acrobatic save to keep the ball out.Four minutes from time Frings came up with an even better contender for goal of the tournament.He allowed a ball from the left to run across his body and let fly with a rasping 35-yarder curler that left Porras clutching thin air. A stunning end to a surprisingly exciting opening game with plenty of goals and even the odd scary moment for the favourites.

Johnnie Muldoon