Valencia's early brace silences Qatar as Ecuador open the World Cup with a controlled 2-0 win in Al Khawr.

Mertens breaks Panama open as Belgium shake off a sluggish start to cruise in Sochi.

Messi's missed penalty leaves Argentina frustrated as Iceland earn a famous World Cup point in Moscow.

Messi lights up Argentina's World Cup opener as Bosnia and Herzegovina are edged out in Rio.

Elliott's late header rescues New Zealand as Slovakia are denied a winning World Cup start in Rustenburg.

Asamoah Gyan's late penalty gives Ghana a landmark World Cup win over Serbia in Pretoria.

Spain announce themselves in Leipzig, sweeping past Ukraine 4-0 with a ruthless opening-half burst.

South Korea rally from a goal down to beat Togo 2-1 in Frankfurt and open their World Cup with a comeback.

Koller and Rosicky punish the United States as the Czechs open with a ruthless 3-0 World Cup statement in Gelsenkirchen.

Pirlo inspires Italy as they open the 2006 World Cup with a composed 2-0 win over Ghana in Hannover.

Van Nistelrooy's early strike gives the Netherlands a narrow World Cup opening win over Serbia and Montenegro in Leipzig.

Portugal scrape past Angola in Cologne as a single first-half goal proves enough in a tense World Cup opener.

Shaka Hislop and Trinidad and Tobago hold Sweden to a famous goalless draw in Dortmund.

Argentina start the 2006 World Cup with a statement win over Côte d'Ivoire in Hamburg.

Costa Rica spoil China’s World Cup debut with a ruthless 2-0 win in Gwangju.

Italy make a winning World Cup start as Vieri and Inzaghi see off Ecuador in Sapporo.

Spain survive a Slovenia scare in Gwangju as Raúl and Juan Sánchez turn the World Cup opener into a 3-1 win.

Sénégal stun reigning champions France as Diop's opener sends the 2002 World Cup into shock mode in Seoul.

Savo Milošević’s strike gives FR Yugoslavia a narrow opening-day win over Iran in Saint-Étienne.

Croatia's World Cup debut turns into a statement as they outlast Jamaica 3-1 in Lens after a lively first-half exchange.