2006 FIFA World Cup™ opening match
This will be Germany’s fourth appearance in a FIFA World Cup™ opening match; their last was in 1994 when they defeated Bolivia 1-0. Germany are unbeaten in their three previous opening matches.
Germany will play a FWC match in Munich for the second time. The previous game was the 1974 FWC Final, which Germany eventually won 2-1 v. Netherlands.
The 2 previous head-to-heads between Costa Rica and Germany were in FIFA U-20 competitions, both of which were won by the Ticos by a margin of 2-1: in 1995 (Doha, Qatar) and 1999 (Lagos, Nigeria).
Both previous matches between Costa Rica and Germany featured their fair share of disciplinaries: in 1995, 8 yellow cards were shown and one player was expelled, while in 1999, there were 10 cautions. Ten Costa Rican players involved in FWC 2006 qualifiers also previously played in a FIFA U-20 match v. Germany: in 1995, Bennette, Drummond, Soto, Wallace and Paulo Wanchope; in 1999, Diaz, Danny Fonseca, Martinez, Parks and Viquez.
Germany are unbeaten in previous FWC head-to-heads against CONCACAF teams; in 5 matches, Germany have won 4 and drawn one (the draw ended in success for Germany after penalties). In 1978, they won 6-0 v. Mexico; in the 1986 quarter-finals, they drew 0-0 with Mexico but won on penalties; in 1998, Germany defeated USA 2-0 and Mexico 2-1; in 2002, they defeated USA 1-0.
Germany have lost only one of their 15 first matches in FWC (total record: 10 wins, 4 draws, one defeat). However, Germany are currently on a winning streak of 4 wins in the last 4 editions: 4-1 v. Yugoslavia in 1990, 1-0 v. Bolivia in 1994, 2-0 v. USA in 1998 and 8-0 v. Saudi Arabia in 2002. In 3 of those matches (1990, 1994 and 1998), the current team coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, scored a goal.
Germany have already played a FWC match on 9 June: in 1938, they lost 2-4 to Switzerland in Paris.
In the past 17 editions of the FWC, the host country has featured in the competition’s opening match on only 6 occasions; interestingly, none of the six teams was defeated (4 wins, 2 draws).
With this year’s opening match, Germany draw level with Mexico as the team to have contested the highest number of FWC inaugural matches at four. In 3 previous opening matches, Germany have won one (1-0 v. Bolivia in 1994) and drawn two (1-1 v. Switzerland AET in 1938 and 0-0 v. Poland in 1978).
After 36 years, this year will see a host team play in the FWC inaugural match; the last was Mexico in 1970 (0-0 v. Soviet Union). After 8 editions, the defending champion will be not involved in the opening match; last time this happened was in 1970 when Mexico and Soviet Union drew 0-0.
This will be the fifth FWC opening match between a European and CONCACAF team; the Europeans lead with 3 wins and 1 draw. The most frequent inter-confederational head-to-head in opening matches is UEFA v. CONMEBOL teams (6 matches).
Costa Rica are only the second team from the North/Central American confederation to participate in an opening match; previously, Mexico appeared in 4 opening matches, the last of which was v. URS in 1970 (0-0) in a match that saw the first ever yellow card in World Cup history issued.
Costa Rica won both of their opening matches at previous FWC finals without conceding a goal; in 1990, they won 1-0 v. Scotland and in 2002, they defeated China 2-0. On both occasions Costa Rica were drawn in Group C and scored all 3 goals in the second half.
Costa Rica have a positive record when it comes to playing European teams in FWC. In 4 matches, they have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 1, while Costa Rica remain unbeaten against their European opponents in FWC group matches. In 1990, they defeated Scotland (1-0) and Sweden (2-1) before losing out to Czech Republic in the round of 16 (1-4). In 2002, Costa Rica drew 1-1 with Turkey in a group match.
CONCACAF teams have failed to win any of their 5 previous FWC opening matches, notching up 1 draw and 4 defeats to date: France-Mexico in 1930 (4-1), Italy-USA in 1934 (7-1), Brazil-Mexico in 1950 (4-0), Sweden-Mexico in 1958 (3-0), Mexico-Soviet Union in 1970 (0-0).
Opening match results to date
- 5 x 1-0
- 4 x 0-0 (consecutive opening matches, 1966-1978)
- 2 x 1-1
- 1 x 2-1; 3-1; 3-0; 4-1; 4-0; 7-1
Famous scorers in opening matches
Popular name Nationality Date Match Final score No. of goals scored
Giuseppe Meazza Italy 27-May-34 Italy v. USA 7-1 1
Ademir Brazil 24-Jun-50 Brazil v. Mexico 4-0 2
Niels Liedholm Sweden 08-Jun-58 Sweden v. Mexico 3-0 1 (penalty)
Juergen Klinsmann Germany 17-Jun-94 Germany v. Bolivia 3-0 1
Other goals in opening matches
Angelo Schiavio (Italy) scored the first and only hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup™ opener: ITA v. USA on 27 May 1934 (7-1).
Of a total 36 goals in opening matches, only 2 have been scored from the penalty spot: Niels Liedholm (Sweden) in 1958 and Collins (Scotland) in 1998.
F&Fs on opening matches in general
1-0 is the most frequent result in FWC inaugural matches - there have been five in 17 editions - followed by 0-0 draws (four in consecutive competitions from 1966 to 1978). The match between Italy and USA in 1934 holds the record for opening match with the highest number of goals scored (7-1).
The Azteca stadium in Mexico City is the only venue to have hosted 2 FWC opening matches: Mexico-Soviet Union in 1970 and Italy-Bulgaria in 1986.
A German player, Hans Pesser, was the first to be sent off in a FWC opening match; he was expelled in the 96th minute of Germany’s match v. Switzerland on 4 June 1938 (1-1 AET). In total, 4 expulsions have occurred in opening matches: Cameroon’s Kana and Massing were sent off in the 1-0 loss to Argentina in 1990, while Bolivia’s Etcheverry received a red card in the 1994 match v. Germany (1-0).
Brazil’s Cesar Sampaio scored the fastest goal in a FWC opening match: 4th minute v. Scotland in 1998.
Data valid as at 28th May 2006
FIFA Communications Division
Berlin, 8 June 2006
