WORLD CUP SOCCER:
Opening Game Tomorrow; Government Offices and Banks Closed Until 1pm
Millions of Costa Ricans at home and abroad will join some 20 million Germans glued to their television sets tomorrow for the opening game of the 2006 World Cup.

In fact, Costa Rica will come to a virtual standstill tomorrow morning when the game kicks off at 10am local time.

All government employees have the morning off. The government has give its employees time to watch the game at home or at work. Private companies will be doing much of the same.

State and private banks will be closed until 12:30pm. Government offices will not be attending the public until 1pm. And telephones will probably go unanswered at many private businesses>

Getting a taxicab will be virtually impossible. Bars will be closed - by law they cannot dispense alcoholic drinks until 11:30am.

Malls like Multiplaza in Escazú are offering giant television screens for visitors to watch the game. Pedestrians along Avenida Central - the pedestrian walkway -  can press their noses on the many store windows who will be showing the game on their multiple televisions.

According to German public broadcaster ZDF, some 1.5 billion people worldwide are expected to watch Costa Rica face Germany on television ,

"Football fans in 200 countries will be able to watch the game in Munich live," ZDF sports director Dieter Gruschwitz said, referring to Friday's opener.