Friday June 9th
Germany get the party going
The World Cup was only 5 minutes old when Lahm opened the scoring with an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area, but 6 minutes later Wanchope stunned the home crowd when he beat the offside trap and put the ball passed Lehmann. Germany regained the lead in the 17 minute when Klose side-footed home a low cross from Schweinsteiger. In the 61st minute Porras made a brilliant save from a Kolse diving header, but the German netted the rebound on his birthday. Wanchope gave Costa Rica some hope when he once again got behind the German defence and found the back of the net in the 73rd minute, but Frings put the result beyond doubt with a screamer 3 minutes from the end. (Germany 4 Cost Rica 2)

Friday June 9th

Ecuador take Poles apart
A goal in each half gave Ecuador victory against Poland in their opening match of the World Cup. Espinoza flicked on a header from a throw in, for Tenerio to head Ecuador in front after 23 minutes. Poland played with more determination in the second half, but it was Ecuador who scored in the 80th minute with Delgado tapping the ball in from a Kaviedes pass. Poland were unlucky not to score with Jelen hitting the bar and Brozek thumping the ball against the post in the dying minutes. (Ecuador 2 Poland 0)

Saturday June 10th

Early joy for England
An early own goal gave England all 3 points against Paraguay. A free-kick floated in by Beckham came off the head of a Paraguayan defender and beat the keeper who suffered an injury a few minutes later and had to be replaced. The substitute keeper Bobadilla did well to deflect 2 good shots by Lampard in the second half. (England 1 Paraguay 0)

Saturday 10th June

Ten brave Soca Warriors hold Sweden
Despite being reduced to 10 men, Trinidad & Tobago held Sweden to a goalless draw. Rami Shabaan in the Swedish goal had to deal with a hard shot from Edwards in the 33rd minute, but it was Shaka Hislop who was the busier of the 2 goalkeepers and notably made a good save when Ibrahimovic turned and volleyed in the 42nd minute. The second half had only just begun when the referee produced the first red card of the tournament dismissing Avery John for a second bookable offence. A minute after Cornell had nearly given 10-man Trinidad & Tobago the lead with a wild shot that struck the bar in the 58th minute, Sweden could have opened their account ,but Shaka Hislop foiled an attempt by Ibrahimovic. Hislop and the rest of the team continued to defend successfully, earning Trinidad & Tobago a point in their first ever World Cup match. (Sweden 0 Trinidad & Tobago 0)

Saturday 10th June

Argentina overpower the Elephants
The "group of death" got under way with Argentina emerging victorious against the Ivory Coast. Tizie managed to hold on to a powerful header from Ayala after pushing it onto the post and nearly allowing it to cross the line in the 15th minute. Nine minutes later the Ivorian defence failed to clear a cross from Riquelme, and Crespo stabbed the ball in. Argentina doubled their lead in the 38th minute when Riquelme threaded the ball through to Saviola who toe-poked the ball past Tizie. The Ivorian's second half pressure finally paid off in the 82nd minute when Drogba turned quickly in the area to steer the ball home, but unfortunately for them it was too little too late. (Argentina 2 Ivory Coast 1)

Sunday 11th June

Robben shows Dutch the way
A single first half goal gave the Netherlands a vital win over Serbia & Montenegro. Robben beat the S&M defence for pace and slotted the ball passed the keeper in the 17th minute of the match. Jervic made a good save 4 minutes later to deny a Robben strike from outside the area. Van der Sar got down well in the 71st minute to save a shot from Koroman, but the Dutch nearly doubled their lead when a free-kick from van Persie in the 82nd minute whistled across the face of the goal and just wide. (Netherlands 1 Serbia & Montenegro 0)

Sunday 11th June

Bravo Mexico
Omar Bravo scored 2 goals to help Mexico defeat Iran 3-1. Iran started the match positively and Hashemian brought a good save out of Sanchez in the Mexican goal. A cleverly taken free-kick in the 28th minute was headed on by Franco and finished off by Bravo from close-range. The Mexican goalkeeper failed to deal with an Iranian corner kick and was punished by Golmohammadi in the in the 36th minute. The talented Iranians finally ran out of steam and Bravo took advantage of a defensive mix-up to net his second goal of the day. Three minutes later Zinha sealed victory for Mexico with a well placed header. (Mexico 3 Iran 1)

Sunday 11th June

Angola proud losers
An early goal was all Portugal could muster against their "little brothers" Angola. Portugal started the match in explosive fashion and came close with a Pauletta effort after only 11 seconds. Figo burst through in the 4th minute to provide Pauletta with a chance from which he could not miss. The Portuguese continued to push forward and Ronaldo hit the post with a header in the 35th minute. Andre forced Ricardo into a diving save in the 42nd minute with a shot from outside the area, and 2 minutes later at the other end Ronaldo brought the best out of Joao Ricardo with a similar effort from inside the area. The Angolan keeper had to save shots from Pauletta and Tiago around the hour-mark and managed to tip over a long range shot from Maniche in stoppage time. (Portugal 1 Angola 0)

Monday 12th June

Australia celebrate late flourish
Australia scored 3 times in the last 6 minutes to come from behind and beat Japan. Viduka forced a double save out of Kawaguchi in the 6th minute. The Japanese keeper did well to get his hand to a low Bresciano shot in the 24th minute, but 2 minutes later Australia went behind when a cross from Nakamura nestled in the back of the net with Schwarzer claiming he had been impeded. Australia replied immediately with a shot from Kewel that went just over the bar. Bresciano came close from a free-kick towards the end of the half. Kawaguchi made an excellent save from a fierce Viduka free-kick in the 69th minute, but after making another fine save from powerful Aloisi free-kick, he was unable to punch the resulting corner away and Cahill found the net through a crowd of players. Five minutes later Cahill smashed the ball in off the post, and in stoppage time Aloisi ran into the box and fired home a third. (Australia 3 Japan 1)

Monday 12th June

Czechs stroll past America
The U.S.A were unable to offer much resistance against a strong Czech side in their opening match of the World Cup. They were a goal down after only 5 minutes when Grygera crossed the ball for Koller to thump in with a header. Reyna's low drive beat Cech , but came off the post in the 28th minute. With 10 minutes of the half remaining Rosicky scored with a fabulous shot from outside the area to give the Czechs some breathing space. The same player rattled the American crossbar in the 68th minute, and after receiving the ball from Nedved in the 76th minute went on to score his second and secure a 3-0 victory for the Czechs. (Czech Republic 3 USA 0)

Monday 12th June

Tough time for Ghana
A spirited performance by newcomers Ghana was not enough against the experienced Italians. Italy mounted the pressure, and when a low cross in the 11th minute reached Gilardino, his close-range shot was deflected by the legs of goalkeeper Kingston. Toni volleyed against the bar in the 26th minute and 7 minutes later Totti tested the keeper with a powerful free-kick. Five minutes before the break a low shot by Pirlo from just outside the area found the corner of the net. Kingston did well to block an effort by Grosso on the stroke of half time. Buffon had to be at his best to deny a powerful Essien shot 8 minutes into the second half. With 67 minutes gone Perrotta might have doubled the lead with a shot from inside the area, but Kingston stood his ground. A defensive error in the 83rd minute gifted Iaquinta with the chance to round the keeper and put the match beyond Ghana. (Italy 2 Ghana 0)

Tuesday 13th June

Advantage Korea After having a man sent off, new-boys Togo lost a match they had been leading. South Korea had more possession in a match that had been without incident until Kader got between 2 defenders and went on to beat the Korean keeper with an accurate low drive in the 31st minute. Lee Woon Jae punched a Sanaya free-kick away 10 minutes later. The keeper was called into action again 3 minutes into the second half when Kader struck from outside the area. Togo went down to 10 men in the 53rd minute after Abalo was sent off for a second yellow card and Lee Chun Suu scored with a brilliant strike from the ensuing free-kick. Togo lost their composure and Ahn put the Koreans 2-1 up with a tremendous shot in the 72nd minute. Ahn tried his luck from inside the area 2 minutes later, but this time the keeper held on to the ball. (South Korea 2 Togo 1)

Tuesday 13th June

France draw blanks
In a pretty uneventful match Switzerland held France to a 0-0 draw. An in-swinging free-kick deceived everyone and hit the French post in the 24th minute. France replied with some rather tame efforts on the Swiss goal and had a penalty claim tuned down in the first half. Barthez blocked a close-range Gygax header with his legs in the 65th minute. France have not scored in a World Cup match since winning it on home soil in 1998. (France 0 Switzerland 0)

Tuesday 13th June

Narrow win for champions
Croatia gave Brazil a hard time, but a strike from Kaka gave the champions all 3 points. Roberto Carlos scorched the fingertips of Pletikosa in the 14th minute and Ronaldinho came close with a shot from the corner-kick that followed. With the match being played at a slow pace, Kaka suddenly curled the ball past Pletikosa to give Brazil a half time advantage. Croatia had their moments in the second half. In the 50th minute Dida had to punch away a powerful low shot from Prso and 3 minutes later Klasnic shot straight at the Brazilian keeper. A shot from Ronaldo flew over the bar in the 56th minute, and in the 62nd minute the Croatian keeper saved brilliantly from a Ronaldinho header. Babic failed to trouble Dida with a shot in the 70th minute, and Adriano got on the end of a Robinho shot but couldn't steer the ball in. (Brazil 1 Croatia 0)

Wednesday 14th June

Spain demolish Ukraine
Ukraine found their first ever World Cup opponents too hot to handle. Alsono stole in to head home the opening goal for Spain in the 13th minute. Only 4 minutes later a deflected Villa free-kick beat Skovkovskyi in the Ukraine goal. Gusin had an effort on goal in the 32nd minute, but Casillas was not troubled. The second half had only just begun when Vashchuk tugged at Torres who was clear on goal. The referee decided not to play the advantage and awarded a penalty sending the defender off the field. Villa smashed the penalty passed Skovkovskyi who got his fingers to the ball. Five minutes later the keeper denied Villa his hat-trick by blocking his effort with his legs. Voronin came close for Ukraine in the 61st minute, but in the 81st minute Torres whacked the ball in from just inside the box for Spain's fourth goal. Skovkovskyi had to save from Albelda to avoid further embarrassment with 2 minutes remaining. Spain had a slight scare in the last minute of the match when Casillas came out of his area and misjudged the flight of the ball, but was rescued by his defenders. (Spain 4 Ukraine 0)

Wednesday 14th June

Arabs share points
Tunisia and Saudi Arabia drew a match they desperately wanted to win. When the ball fell to Jaziri in the 23rd minute, he volleyed Tunisia into the lead. A free-kick from Tukar was handled with ease by Boumnijel in the Tunisian goal. The match gathered pace in the second half. Nuur squandered a chance when the ball fell to him in front of the Tunisian goal 2 minutes after the break, but in the 56th minute Al Kahtani ran onto a pass from Nuur and side-footed the ball into the roof of the net. Only moments after coming on, veteran Al Jaber received a good pass from Al Hawsawi and rolled the ball past the Tunisian keeper. Suleimani hit the woodwork for Saudi Arabia from a free kick in the last minute of the match, but in stoppage time Jaziri crossed the ball onto the head of Jaidi who headed in the equaliser. (Tunisia 2 Saudi Arabia 2)