Only seconds left to kick off.

 As an aside - as I made my way to the FSC studios this morning I was informed by the world wide leader in sports (radio version) that the FI-FA (as oppossed to the FE-FA) World Cup kicks off today. Cute or what!

 No surprises for Germany - Ballack on the bench. Germany with a bright start. Good effort from Frings as Costa Rica is caught in possession.

Philipp Lahm turns a negative into a positive. Lahm and Sweinsteiger are both right footed players playing on the left side which makes the German a bit unbalanced. But it does allow Lahm to check back inside onto his right foot and he hits an absolute corker. Great start for Germany.  

Back come the Ticos. Well worked goal from Wanchope. Looks like Friedrich played the striker onside. Suspect defending from Geramny as they are caught very square.

Two goals in first 12 minutes - not a bad start.

Oh yes what a fantastic start to the tournament - another goal. Schweinsteiger given too much space as he arrives late - shot come cross and Klose gets a goalscorers goal. Schweinsteiger could be one of te stars of this tournament. Costa Rico has Gomez playing deep so they are really playing a 4-5-1. However they seem to be dropping back to quickly and giving Germany far too much time on the ball.

The first yellow card of the game to Fonseca but this one has been an easy game so far for the ref.

 The game has settled down - will Germany look to hold what they have or are there more goals? Here's a chance as a Germany get the their first free kick within shooting distance.

Podalski is a bit high with his effort but maybe it will help him get his range should the chance come along. Back to back corners - from the left it was poor - the second more dangerous. Into the last couple of minutes of the half - important time.

Half time arrives and time to take a breather. If Germany continue to push there are more goals in this game. They have the option of shutting the game down but the defense has not looked solid. In fact both back fours look more than capable of driving a coach to drink or beyond.

Underway again... ball drops to Podalski who rips one just over the bar. Corner for Costa Rica and a bit of slack marking allows a free header but the ball goes wide. Germany is starting to press again - the Ticos defense is giving Germany acres of space to work in.

 Coming up to the hour mark and the game is drifting with neither team able to create a clear cut chance. Ooops drifting no longer - Lahm turns provider and Klose score his second. Borowski gives Lahm a clear run to the goal line and this time the full  back crosses on the run with his left peg. Klose gets the header in - the keeper saves but Klose puts the rebound away. 3-1 Germany. We haven't seen as many goals as this in a world Cup opener since 1962 - I think - one more and it will exceed the 62 opener when Chile beat Switzerland 3-1.

Borowski comes off and on comes Sebastian Kehl. I don't he did himself any favours with his display.

Costa Rica back in this one - Friedrich decides to play his own offside trap and gets caught not playing with the other members of the back four as Mertesacker and Metzelder step up and the full back doesn't. Friedrich came into the tournament as a player who plays well north to south but is poor east to west. It's cost Germany two goals. Oh by the way - Wanchope got the goal.

78 minutes - Klose off and Neuville on. Germany create a couple of chances straight away but Costa Rica clear the danger.

Into the last five minutes and Frings has just put this game away. Square ball played into his path and he just put his foot right through the ball. Not bad for a holding midfield player!

 Whistle goes - all Germany celebrates but there will also be a sense of relief. Costa Rica kept it close with their two goals but the German defense looked bad on both of them. Even the slighest bit of pressure indecision spread through the German back four like a bad outbreak of the flu. For the neutrals - six goals is not a bad start and two of them (Lahm and Frings) are earlier contenders for goals of the tournament.

Man of the match for me - Philipp Lahm. A great goal and a good cross for the third one.