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.

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.

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.

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.