Guest Sima Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 Group AMunich Friday, 9 June Kick-off: 1700 BST Live on BBC One, BBC Radio Five Live & the BBC Sport website World Cup hosts Germany open the tournament in Munich - and are without talismanic captain Michael Ballack. Chelsea's new signing picked up a calf strain in the 3-0 friendly win over Colombia on 2 June and the injury has prevented him from training. Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann is likely to use Tim Borowski as Ballack's replacement in central midfield with Bastian Schweinsteiger on the left. Former Derby striker Paulo Wanchope is set to lead the Costa Rica attack. Germany (probable): Lehmann, Lahm, Nowotny, Mertesacker, Friedrich, Schweinsteiger, Frings, Borowski, Schneider, Podolski, Klose. Costa Rica (probable): Porras, Umana, Marin, Gonzalez, Sequeira, Martinez, Solis, Centeno, Fonseca, Gomez, Wanchope. Referee: Horacio Elizondo (Argentina) Ballack's absence is a blow for Germany, as the midfielder is considered to be their one true world-class star. Despite beginning training on Wednesday, the 29-year-old was forced to end the session early. Germany coach Klinsmann has previously insisted he will not play anyone who is not fit 48 hours before a match. The Germans are likely to play with an attacking 4-4-2 formation as they attempt to avoid the fate of Argentina in 1990 and France in 2002 by losing the opening game to unfancied opponents. Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski will not be isolated up front as Schweinsteiger and Bernt Schneider will push forward on the flanks. Costa Rica are likely to pack their midfield in a 3-5-2 formation and wait for their chance to counter-attack. BIG MATCH STATS Head-to-heads There have been no previous encounters between these nations. (West) Germany are undefeated (four wins, one draw) in five World Cup matches against nations from the CONCACAF region. Team facts - Germany (West) Germany have lost only one of their previous 15 opening matches in a World Cup. In 1982 they were upset 2-1 by Algeria, but still managed to reach the final. The World Cup hosts have never lost their opening match (13 wins, five draws). Germany have featured in the tournament opener three times. In 1938 they drew with Switzerland 1-1. In 1978, they drew with Poland 0-0. In 1994, they defeated Bolivia 1-0 courtesy of a Jurgen Klinsmann goal. Jurgen Klinsmann is one of two national team coaches (Mexico's Ricardo Lavolpe is the other) at the 2006 World Cup to have won the competition as a player. Klinsmann lifted the trophy on behalf of West Germany. Team facts - Costa Rica Costa Rica are playing at their third World Cup, having also appeared in 1990 and 2002. Team boss Alexandre Guimaraes represented his nation at the 1990 World Cup, making three substitute appearances. Player facts - Germany Miroslav Klose, who netted five times in Germany's 2002 World Cup campaign celebrates his 28th birthday on the day of the World Cup's opening match. He is one of nine players from the campaign that finished as runners-up in 2002. David Odonkor made his international debut against Japan, which means all 23 players in Jürgen Klinsmann's squad now have at least one international match under their belt. Mike Hanke is suspended for this match after having been red carded in the Confederations Cup last year. Player facts - Costa Rica Nine players in the Costa Rican squad also played at the 2002 World Cup. Captain Luis Marin (120) and midfielder Mauricio Solís (107) are Costa Rica's all-time leading appearance makers. They are the only Costa Rican centurions in that respect. Miscellaneous Info Group A is the only group featuring four nations that were also present at the 2002 World Cup. Germany also hosted the World Cup in 1974, when they emerged victorious by defeating Holland in the final at Munich's Olympiastadion. Mexico, Italy and France have also hosted the World Cup finals twice. Even with Ballack missing Germany should still have too much for Costa Rica. 2-0 to Germany Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hggcraig 0 Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 I can see Klose scoring a few, he has had a good season. 3-0 to Germany Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Costa Rica isn't the strong squad that they were in 2002 when they bowed out only narrowly to Turkey and Brazil (1st and 3rd place in the tournament.) I expect a comfortable 2-0 or 2-1 win for the Hosts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zathras 266 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Costa Rica isn't the strong squad that they were in 2002 when they bowed out only narrowly to Turkey and Brazil (1st and 3rd place in the tournament.) I expect a comfortable 2-0 or 2-1 win for the Hosts. 146803[/snapback] That was me btw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodgate27 0 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 1-1 draw, Germany aren't much chop especially without Mercenary Man. Expect the Costa Ricans to score early, while ze Germans are unsettled with nerves. Germany to equalise around the hour mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Boring ceremony? Three words: Right Said Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenzer 15716 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Weren't they just at the open-air thing the other night? Anyway, boo to Ballack being out, that's one less reason for my fella to actually watch the thing. This could be a difficult few weeks in terms of remote control control. 3-1 to the Jormans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Weren't they just at the open-air thing the other night? Anyway, boo to Ballack being out, that's one less reason for my fella to actually watch the thing. This could be a difficult few weeks in terms of remote control control. 3-1 to the Jormans. 146846[/snapback] Boo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenzer 15716 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Weren't they just at the open-air thing the other night? Anyway, boo to Ballack being out, that's one less reason for my fella to actually watch the thing. This could be a difficult few weeks in terms of remote control control. 3-1 to the Jormans. 146846[/snapback] Boo! 146859[/snapback] I know. No sense of occasion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetleftpeg 0 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 I've got 2-0 to the jormans in my score predictors...c'mon the huns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 When your star player is Paulo Wanchope, you're struggling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenzer 15716 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/w...006/5056630.stm The first match will be preceded by an opening ceremony at 1520 BST in which more than 150 players who have won the World Cup, including Pele and Diego Maradona, will be on display. Makes it sounds like they're going to be wheeled on in glass cases... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluke 2 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Maybe they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie Boyo 24 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 (edited) What about the bell ringers...! Here comes Pele with the world cup! Edited June 9, 2006 by Geordie Boyo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie Boyo 24 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Team Line-ups Germany: Lehmann, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Frings, Borowski, Schneider, Podolski, Klose. Subs: Asamoah, Ballack, Hildebrand, Hitzlsperger, Huth, Jansen, Kahn, Kehl, Neuville, Nowotny, Odonkor. Costa Rica: Porras, Marin, Umana, Gonzalez, Martinez, Fonseca, Solis, Centeno, Sequeira, Gomez, Wanchope. Subs: Alfaro, Azofeifa, Badilla, Bernard, Bolanos, Drummond, Hernandez, Mesen, Nunez, Rodriguez, Saborio, Wallace. Referee: Horacio Marcelo Elizondo (Argentina) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie Boyo 24 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Alan's balls....where are they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie Boyo 24 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 What's happened to Hamann, is he injured? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattM4 0 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 There we go, all nice and clean now, I've merged yours with this one Boyo so anyway yeah, I hope Germany lose and all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie Boyo 24 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattM4 0 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 What's happened to Hamann, is he injured? 147093[/snapback] he's not even in the 23 man squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizza 105 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Howay Costa Rica! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie Boyo 24 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 What's happened to Hamann, is he injured? 147093[/snapback] he's not even in the 23 man squad. 147114[/snapback] Terrible that like. I thought he had a mixed season, but still I think he's a vital player for them...ah well...! COME ON COSTA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizza 105 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Whats this silence for like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizza 105 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 That wasn't far off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatful Of Hollow 0 Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Jormans score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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