PHILIPP LAHM, WHO FIRED HOSTS GERMANY TO A DREAM START AT THE WORLD CUP WITH THE FIRST GOAL IN A 4-2 WIN OVER COSTA RICA IN FRIDAY'S OPENING GAME, PRAISED THE NOISY HOME FANS FOR THEIR SUPPORT. "IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO START OFF WITH A WIN. YOU COULD SEE WHAT EUPHORIA THERE WAS IN THE STADIUM," THE LEFT BACK, WHO SCORED A FINE OPENING GOAL AFTER SIX MINUTES, TOLD GERMAN PUBLIC TELEVISION. "PART OF THE VICTORY SHOULD BE CREDITED TO THE FANS. THEY WERE THE 12TH MAN ON THE PITCH. WE SCORED FOUR GOALS AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BUT CLEARLY WE CAN'T LET SO MANY GOALS IN." GERMANY COACH JUERGEN KLINSMANN SAID: "WE'RE HAPPY TO GET THREE POINTS IN THE OPENING MATCH. SURE, THERE WAS SOME TENSION. WE WANTED TO GET THROUGH IT WITHOUT ANY YELLOW CARDS AND WE WANTED TO GIVE THE CROWD SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT." HE WAS ALSO FULL OF PRAISE FOR THE 22-YEAR-OLD DEFENDER, WHO IS RIGHT-FOOTED BUT PERFECTLY AT HOME ON THE LEFT SIDE. "HE SHOWED TODAY WHAT HE CAN DO AS A LEFT BACK. HE SHOULD BE PROUD OF HIS PERFORMANCE TODAY AND I'M SURE WE'LL HAVE A LOT MORE FUN WITH HIM," KLINSMANN TOLD REPORTERS. "LAHM PLAYED AN EXCELLENT GAME."
