Jurgen Klinsmann shrugged off the absence of Michael Ballack after his Germany side had got their World Cup challenge off to a spectacular start with a 4-2 victory against Costa Rica.

Two goals from Miroslav Klose, plus thunderous long-range efforts from Philipp Lahm and Torsten Frings were reward for Germany's attacking policy while former Manchester City striker Paulo Wanchope replied twice for Costa Rica.

Klinsmann, however, played down talk of a power struggle with Ballack and insisted he had left out his captain, who claimed he was fit to play, for his own good.

Klinsmann said: ``The decision to leave out Ballack was a normal one for the coach. He said he was ready and could definitely play but we had a scan and saw some injury on his leg. We will never take a risk. We will build him up slowly and surely.

``It is not a problem if a player says he wants to play. It was the opening match - very special. Doctors have been working on him and he is raring to go.

``But we had to tell him we were responsible for the whole team. We would have been devoid of responsibility if we had let him play. I took the decision on behalf of Michael himself.''

Klinsmann was delighted with the result which puts the Germans in pole position in Group A.

He said: ``We can be satisfied. It was important to get three points in an attractive game. We succeeded and we are satisfied. There was a certain amount of tension and this led to mistakes with the two goals.

``But we have seen an extraordinary game for the opening of a World Cup. It was spectacular.''

The former Tottenham striker celebrated wildly on the touchline when Lahm opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a brilliant shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Klinsmann added: ``We live intensely as coaches. We are part of the team. We are telling the team to live the moment. Being in your own country in an opening match is a terrific moment and then Lahm nails a shot into the corner of the net. That was great.''

Klose, meanwhile, admitted that his two goals and the man-of-the-match award were a fabulous present for his 28th birthday.

The Werder Bremen striker, who was substituted late on as a precaution with a strained thigh, said: ``I feel great. It is the best thing in world to win an opening match. Scoring two goals was even better.

``We know we will have to increase our performance and we know we can do that. It was a beautiful feeling.

``I'm not worried. We are a team and we always have to get behind the ball.

The attack today made it difficult today for the defence.''

For Costa Rica the defeat makes qualification for the knockout phase difficult but manager Alexandre Guimares was upbeat.

He said: ``We still have matches to play and we can win points. We have enormous hope that the team will improve.

``The team got two goals at a very high level and our attitude was good.

``We wanted to play a more balanced match but Germany were very tough.

``The difference was that the German team at the psychologically important points were able to impose their power. But I think we have a good chance against Ecuador and Poland.''