Germany Thump Curaçao 7-1, but Concede a Historic First
Seven goals, a Havertz double and a Group E rout, but Curaçao's Livano Comenencia got the goal of the night: the island's first in World Cup history.
Germany opened its World Cup with a statement and a brief red face. The four-time champions hammered Curaçao 7-1 in New Jersey on Sunday, but not before the smallest nation ever to reach a World Cup scored a goal its players will be telling their grandchildren about.
Felix Nmecha set the tone early, steering a first-time finish into the far corner after a slick exchange with Florian Wirtz. Then came the moment of the night for the Caribbean side: Livano Comenencia levelled in the 21st minute with Curaçao’s first goal in World Cup history. The parity lasted about a quarter of an hour.
Nico Schlotterbeck headed Germany back in front from a corner, and Kai Havertz rolled in a penalty in first-half stoppage time after Riechedly Bazoer fouled Nmecha. The second half was a procession. Jamal Musiala swept in Joshua Kimmich’s through ball within two minutes of the restart; Nathaniel Brown volleyed home on his debut; substitute Deniz Undav made it six; and Havertz completed his brace late to round off the scoring.
For Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean side and the smallest nation in World Cup history, simply being here was the achievement, and Comenencia’s strike was the reward. For Germany, the night offered reassurance and a small caution: dominant for long stretches, yet briefly cracked open by a team it was expected to brush aside.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side will take the three points and a healthy goal difference, with the attacking pieces, Wirtz, Musiala and Havertz among them, looking sharp. The brief lapse that let Comenencia in is the kind of opening better opponents will punish, but on the night it barely registered.
Curaçao’s presence is its own story: a Dutch Caribbean island that climbed the rankings to become, by population, the smallest nation ever to play at a World Cup. The scoreline will sting, but the goal, and the few minutes when the underdogs stood level with a giant, are what the island will keep.
Germany sit top of Group E for now, in a tournament where several favourites have looked vulnerable in their openers, from Brazil’s stumble to a cagey United States win. Curaçao take the memory, and a place in the record books, into a group that only gets harder.
