Germany opened their World Cup campaign with a ruthless 7-1 victory of Group E debutants Curacao in Houston, but the 160,00 strong Caribbean nation still walked away with a piece of history.
Julian Nagelsmann's side started fast, with Felix Nmecha settling any nerves in the 6th minute. Picking the ball up 25 yards out, he curled a low shot into the bottom corner to put Germany ahead. For a moment it looked like a routine win, but Curacao had other ideas.
In the 21st minute, the underdogs struck back. Livano Comenencia latched onto a loose ball, kept his composure, and fired home to make it 1-1. It was Curacao's first ever World Cup goal, and it turned them into smallest nation by population to ever score on the world's biggest stage. The bench erupted, and for 17 minutes, the dream was alive.
Germany restored order before halftime. Nico Schlotterbeck rose highest to meet a corner and powered a header in at the 38 minute mark. Then, deep into stoppage time, Kai Havertz converted from the penalty spot after a clumsy challenge to make it 3-1. The game felt over at the break.
The second half became a showcase of Germany's attacking depth. Just 47 seconds after restart, Joshua Kimmich threaded a pass through, and Jamal Musiala finished with a smart angled strike to make it 4-1. The floodgates opened.
Florian Wirtz continued to pull the strings in the final third. In the 68th minute, his pass found Denis Undav, who flicked it on for left back Nathaniel Brown. The defender surged upfield and hooked a volley into the bottom corner for 5-1.
Undav got his own goal 10 minute later, coming off the bench to tap in after a cutback made it 6-1. Havertz then capped the night in the 87th, racing clear and clipping the ball over the keeper to complete Germany's biggest World Cup opening victory since 2006.
KEY MOMENT
● 6 minute: Nmecha curls in to put Germany ahead.
● 21 minute: Comenencia make history for Curacao with their first World Cup goal.
● 38 minute: Schlotterbeck heads Germany back in front.
● 45+1 minute: Havertz converts from the spot
● 47 minute: Musiala finishes smartly after Kimmich's pass
● 68 minute: Brown volley home from Undav's flick
●78 minute: Undav adds a sixth off the bench
●87th minute: Havertz races through to seal it
ANALYSIS: GOALS GALORE, BUT DEFENSIVE QUESTIONS REMAIN
It was a brutal scoreline for Curacao, but also a landmark day. Scoring at a World Cup will mean more to them than Germany's seven goals. For Nagelsmann, the result is a boost, but not a perfect one. The attack looked fluid, with Wirtz, Musiala, and Sane interchanging brilliantly. Germany's movement off the ball created space all night.
Yet Curacao's goal exposed familiar issues. Germany were caught out in transition, and Schlotterbeck's positioning on the equalizer will need work. Against better opponents, those lapses get punished.
For now, Germany sent a clear message: they can score for fun. Whether they can tighten up at the back will decide how far this campaign goes.
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