Budweiser Man of the Match: Miroslav Klose (GER)

Miroslav Klose's two goals in the opening fixture of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ earned him the Budweiser Man of the Match honours.

The centre-forward celebrated his 28th birthday in style, standing out amid a clutch of strong performances from a Germany side that got off to a sterling start to their campaign as hosts.

The birthday boy’s first goal, in the 17th minute, broke an early deadlock after Paulo Wanchope had equalised Philipp Lahm’s early opener. Klose then made it 3-1 from close range in the 61st minute when he connected with a cross from Lahm. It would prove to be a vitally important goal, as Wanchope completed his own brace 12 minutes later.

“He got two goals and that made the difference,” said FIFA Technical Study Group member Francisco Maturana. “It's not easy to play in a World Cup, and a player who scores two goals to help win the game deserves to be Man of the Match.”