DFB team launches World Cup campaign with a rout: 7-1 against Curaçao

Curaçao, ranked 82nd in the FIFA rankings and playing in their first-ever World Cup match, hit back, however: in the 21st minute, Livano Comenencia of FC Zürich scored the equalizer, with an unfortunate defensive action by captain Joshua Kimmich causing a decisive deflection. It was the first-ever World Cup goal in the history of the Caribbean nation.

In the 28th minute, Nico Schlotterbeck restored Germany's lead. The 26-year-old center-back headed home from a corner taken by Nathaniel Brown – his first international goal on his 28th appearance for Germany.

Lightning start and quick response

Shortly before the break, Kai Havertz made it 3-1 from the penalty spot. The 27-year-old Arsenal professional confidently converted the spot kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time, simultaneously underlining his record of five penalties converted from six attempts for the national team. The penalty had been awarded for a foul by Riechedly Bazoer on Nmecha.

After the restart, it took just 68 seconds for Jamal Musiala to make it 4-1. The Bayern Munich star found the net in the 47th minute from a tight angle after a through ball from Joshua Kimmich.

In the 63rd minute, Leroy Sané was presented with a clear goalscoring opportunity, but the attacker missed from close range. Just five minutes later, it was Nathaniel Brown who extended the lead to 5-1. The 23-year-old left-back from Eintracht Frankfurt – who, according to a Bild report, is on the verge of a move to Bayern Munich for over €50 million – scored on his World Cup debut in the 68th minute, assisted by substitute Deniz Undav.

Undav himself got in on the act in the 78th minute, making it 6-1. The VfB Stuttgart striker had only just come off the bench and scored with a fine piece of play. Kai Havertz rounded things off in the 88th minute, converting a chip from Deniz Undav and sealing the 7-1 final score with his second goal of the night.

One-two after the break

The result represented Germany's biggest World Cup win since the 8-0 against Saudi Arabia in 2002, and simultaneously the second-biggest of all time – level with the legendary 7-1 against Brazil in the 2014 World Cup semifinal. The DFB team also extended its winning streak to ten consecutive victories.

In the starting lineup was also goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who had returned to the national team after a two-year absence. The 40-year-old played his 20th World Cup match, setting a new record for the most World Cup appearances by a goalkeeper. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann had recalled Neuer shortly before the tournament, leaving Oliver Baumann – the regular keeper throughout qualifying – on the bench.

A historic evening for Neuer

Before the game, Nagelsmann had already described the fixture as a David-versus-Goliath duel and a DFB Cup-type situation. DFB general manager Andreas Rettig had also made his expectations clear: «Wir wollen einfach erfolgreich ins Turnier starten und nicht über ein 5:0 schwadronieren.» Deniz Undav added with confidence: «Wenn ich sagen würde, ich will ins Achtelfinale kommen, dann wäre ich falsch hier.»

For the German side, it was an overall successful opening, even if not without its wobbles. Julian Nagelsmann's team – the youngest coach of the tournament at 38 – made further substitutions as the game went on: Antonio Rüdiger and Leon Goretzka were brought on late, after Aleksandar Pavlović had started in central midfield alongside Nmecha. Leroy Sané had originally moved into the starting eleven following the injury-enforced withdrawal of Lennart Karl.

Bastian Schweinsteiger was commentating for ARD and summed up the mood after the equalizer: «Jetzt ist das Schlimmste eingetroffen. Der Glaube bei Curacao ist da!» But the German team left no room for doubt thereafter.

Reactions and outlook

The opponents were no pushovers either: Jürgen Locadia, a former Bundesliga striker, played up front for the Caribbean island. Curaçao are coached by 78-year-old Dick Advocaat, the oldest coach of the tournament, creating a generational contrast with Nagelsmann.

German fans can already look forward to the next assignments after this emphatic opening win: on Saturday, the DFB team faces Ivory Coast in Toronto, before the final group match against Ecuador on June 25. The squad will first fly back to the World Cup base camp in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where preparations for the second group game begin on Tuesday.

Five German players made their World Cup debuts in Houston – including Nathaniel Brown, who made a particularly memorable impression with a goal and an assist. Kai Havertz was the only German player to have already scored World Cup goals prior to this tournament, and with four goals in three World Cup matches, he is now the most prolific German scorer of recent times.

Curaçao make history

The post-match reactions were accordingly positive. Neuer himself said: «Mit positiven Gedanken» gehe er in seine fünfte Weltmeisterschaft. «Ich freue mich auf alles, was kommt. Ich bin voller Energie.» Nagelsmann was full of praise for the goalkeeper's experience: «Manu hat eine Riesen-Turnier-Erfahrung. Die ist nicht nur im Spiel wichtig, sondern auch vor dem Spiel. Er hat alles erlebt, von ganz positiven Momenten bis hin zu sehr negativen auf der großen Bühne. Er ist ein Ruhe gebender Faktor für uns. Und er ist nach wie vor einer der besten Keeper der Welt.»

There is, however, one small dampener: Jonathan Tah made an error that led to the equalizer, showing that the German defense is not yet fully in sync. Nevertheless, the overriding feeling at the end was one of confidence that the team around the four-time world champions is on the right path to avoid the trauma of the group-stage exits of 2018 and 2022. At this World Cup, eight of the twelve third-placed teams reach the knockout rounds, which significantly reduces the risk of another group-stage elimination.

For Curaçao, the World Cup adventure continues on Friday in Kansas City against Ecuador – a historic tournament in which the small Caribbean nation has already provided an unforgettable moment with the first World Cup goal in its history.

Overall, the opening game shows: the German team has a broad range of goalscorers, a working blend of experience (Neuer) and youthful verve (Musiala, Brown), and a coach who finds the right words before and after matches. The group stage now serves to carry this momentum into the decisive knockout games.