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Play in Group A of the 2006 FIFA World Cup completed on 20 June 2006. Germany won the group, and advanced to the second round, along with Ecuador. Poland and Costa Rica failed to advance.
Detailed results of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Group A. (Key)
All times local (CEST/UTC+2)
Germany vs Costa Rica
After just six minutes, Philipp Lahm put Germany in front with a curling shot from outside the penalty area that beat José Porras and flew into the top corner. However, Costa Rica's Paulo Wanchope equalized minutes later after breaching the German defence. Germany retained their lead five minutes later when Miroslav Klose shot in Bernd Schneider's cross. Klose netted his second goal just after the hour-mark, putting in the rebound after his own header was parried by Porras. However, after 12 minutes Costa Rica again cut the deficit with Wanchope scoring past Jens Lehmann with a composed finish after receiving a Walter Centeno's cross, although the German players believed Wanchope was offside. The Germans sealed the victory three minutes from time with Torsten Frings firing in a long-range shot that beat Porras in similar fashion to Lahm's goal. Frings' goal is considered as one of the tournament's best.