FIFA WC: Curaçao script history before Germany's seven-goal blitz seals emphatic win

Germany brushed speech World Cup debutants Curaçao 7-1 successful their FIFA World Cup opener connected Sunday, but not earlier the Caribbean federation produced a memorable infinitesimal by scoring its first-ever extremity successful the tourney and holding the four-time champions level for 37 minutes successful a spirited first-half display.

Curaçao's historical onslaught stuns Germany

Playing successful their maiden World Cup match, Curaçao became the smallest federation ever to diagnostic astatine the tourney and enjoyed a imagination infinitesimal erstwhile Livano Comenencia etched his sanction into history. After Felix Nmecha had fixed Germany an aboriginal pb successful the sixth minute, Comenencia fired a left-footed effort done a crowded punishment country successful the 21st infinitesimal to marque it 1-1.The extremity was Curaçao's archetypal ever astatine a FIFA World Cup and concisely raised hopes of an upset arsenic Dick Advocaat's men frustrated the Germans for overmuch of the opening half.

"Even though it wasn't me, it felt similar it was me, it was each of us, the full island, everybody," Curaçao winger Jearl Margaritha said aft the match. "We screamed our lungs out. So we were happy."However, Germany's superior prime yet told. Defender Nico Schlotterbeck restored the pb successful the 38th infinitesimal with a header from Nathaniel Brown's corner, ending Curaçao's brave absorption aft the sides had been level for 17 minutes.

Kai Havertz past converted a punishment successful first-half stoppage clip aft Felix Nmecha was brought down wrong the box, giving Germany a commanding 3-1 vantage heading into the break.

Havertz treble powers Germany to connection victory

Julian Nagelsmann's broadside wasted small clip aft the restart. Jamal Musiala extended the pb conscionable 2 minutes into the 2nd fractional earlier Brown got connected the scoresheet successful the 68th minute.Deniz Undav added different successful the 78th infinitesimal and Havertz completed his brace with 2 minutes remaining to headdress a ascendant show and manus Germany a six-goal winning margin."We truly needed this convincing win," Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann said. "We needed this self-confidence. It was determination but it decidedly grew."Nagelsmann acknowledged that his broadside faced a tricky situation against an hostile carrying small pressure."One squad has precise precocious expectations and the different 1 doesn't and that's a spot tricky," helium said.

Redemption ngo begins positively

Germany entered the tourney seeking redemption aft suffering successive group-stage exits successful Russia and Qatar, and Sunday's emphatic effect provided an perfect commencement to their campaign."We person to amusement the fans that we tin execute and we person to person the confidence," Nagelsmann said. "We're successful a amended spot than we were entering this match."Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, returning to planetary shot aft astir 2 years, made 1 prevention successful beforehand of a assemblage of 68,021 astatine Houston's NRG Stadium.Germany adjacent look Ivory Coast successful Toronto, portion Curaçao volition effort to physique connected the historical evening erstwhile they instrumentality connected Ecuador successful Kansas City.