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Germany show no mercy as Curaçao suffer nightmare debut

football14 June 2026 20:10| © AFP
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Germany got their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign off to the perfect start by hammering Curaçao 7-1 in the Group E opener at NRG Stadium in Houston, USA on Sunday evening.

Therefore, the European giants became the first nation this century to score seven or more goals in a World Cup match on three occasions. A victory over Ivory Coast on June 20 would virtually seal Germany's place in the Round of 16.

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For the Blue Wave, their debut match was disastrous as they conceded seven goals, but they can take consolation from scoring in their first game. Curaçao will hope to cause an upset against Ecuador on June 21 to boost their Round of 32 ambitions.

Die Mannschaft dominated early and took the lead in the sixth minute through Felix Nmecha, who finished a slick one-two with Florian Wirtz for his second international goal, making it 1-0 to Germany

The Blue Wave refused to lie down and grew into the game and they hit back strongly in the 21st minute as Livano Comenencia scored a deflected strike to make it 1-1 — the Caribbean nation’s first-ever World Cup goal.

However, Germany responded with authority: Nico Schlotterbeck headed in a Nathaniel Brown corner in the 38th minute before Kai Havertz converted a stoppage-time penalty after Nmecha was fouled in the box to make it 3-1 at halftime.

Die Mannschaft did not take their foot off the pedal after the restart, scoring four unanswered goals. Joshua Kimmich set up Jamal Musiala who scored from close range in the 47th minute to make it 4-1 to Germany, demoralising the Blue Wave.

It then turned into a one-way street. Denis Undav slipped Brown through, and the striker made it 5-1 in the 68th minute. Ten minutes later, captain Kimmich delivered another assist, this time picking out Undav, who calmly finished to make it 6-1.

Havertz sealed the emphatic 7-1 victory, firing home in the 88th minute after being set up by the inspired Undav, who delivered a brilliant performance off the bench, scoring once and providing two assists to blow away a hapless Curaçao side.

Germany (3) 7 (Nmecha 6', Schlotterbeck 38', Havertz 45'+5, 88', Musiala 47', Brown 68', Undav 78')

Curaçao (1) 1 (Comenencia 21')

Germany: Neuer; Kimmich (Anton 83'), Tah (Rüdiger 73'), Schlotterbeck, Brown (Raum 73'); Nmecha (Goretzka 73'), Pavlovic; Sané, Musiala (Undav 64'), Wirtz; Havertz.

Curaçao: Room; Floranus, Bazoer, Obispo, Fonville; Comenencia, L. Bacuna, J. Bacuna; Chong (Kastaneer 82'); Locadia (Margaritha 65'), Hansen (Antonisse 46').

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