Respect but no fear as Costa Rica prepare for hosts

WALLDORF, June 5 (Reuters) Costa Rica goalkeeper Jose Francisco Porras expects to be busy when they take on World Cup hosts Germany in the tournament opener in Munich on Friday.

With the German public demanding a confidence-boosting win against the Ticos, Porras and his defenders will need to be at their best to keep Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose in check.

Respect but no fear of playing the three-times world champions is the mood running through the Costa Rican camp.

''I hope it will be close, that's the way I see it,'' Porras told reporters after training at the Waldstadion on Monday.

''It's a dream to be in this game. Everyone expects a German victory but people in Costa Rica are expecting the opposite.

''We will do everything possible to avoid picking the ball out of the net,'' added the veteran keeper who has became a national team regular only in the twilight of his career.

Defender Michael Umana will mark Klose, Germany's top marksman at the last World Cup with five goals.

''He is an excellent player... very dangerous and particularly good in the air,'' he said. ''We do have to respect him for that but we do not fear him.

''We are very positive, we are coming to a great party. The pressure does not exist, it motivates us.'' World Cup opening games have often produced a shock. at the last World Cup Senegal stunned holders France while 16 years ago Cameroon pulled off a sensational win over Argentina.

Costa Rica are making their third appearance at the finals.

In 2002 they were unlucky to be exit in the first round as they lost out on goal difference to eventual semi-finalists Turkey.

The other nations in Group A are Poland and Ecuador.

REUTERS PM PC1706