The ultimate David versus Goliath clash as four-time winners Germany open their World Cup campaign against the smallest nation ever to qualify for the global showpiece.
Die Mannschaft are expected to steamroller the tiny island in the south Caribbean but Curacao’s vastly experienced Dutch boss Dick Advocaat is giving off a quietly confident vibe.
“That we start against Germany is fantastic,” said the 78-year-old. “We know straight away where we stand. We want to go through to the next round and a surprise is always possible.
“We are not without a chance. There’s a lot of ambition in the team and if you have ambition you can achieve a lot.”
Curacao’s status as a constituent island within the Kingdom of the Netherlands adds an element of spice with Germany being a traditional rival of the Dutch, as does the fact all but one of their squad were born across the border in Europe.
Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room told Bild: “For Germany, it is a game against the Netherlands MkII because almost all our player were born there. This creates a special rivalry and explosiveness – and gives us greater motivation.”
The pressure is all on Germany, especially given their recent World Cup record, although most fans accept they are behind the leading sides such as Spain, France and Argentina.
“We aren’t among the absolute top favourites – there are three or four others,” said Germany national team director Rudi Voller, a 1990 World Cup winner with Germany. “But we know how important an opening win is.
“We are here and want to be a team that is difficult to beat. We want to top our group and then assert ourselves in the knockout stage.”
Germany warmed up with friendly wins over Finland and the USA.
“The two wins from our last two friendlies give us a good feeling and we want to maintain that here,” Voller added. “There is no guarantee if you win the first game that that is the way the tournament will go for you. We have to go through the group as the top team, there is no discussion about that. That is our goal.”
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Team news for Germany v Curacao
Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer, controversially recalled for the tournament, is expected to shrug off a calf problem to start in goal for Germany.
Curacao have no problems to report and Advocaat can select from a fully fit squad.
Predicted line-ups for Germany v Curacao
Germany: Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown; F Nmecha, Pavlovic; Sane, Musiala, Wirtz; Havertz
Curacao: Room; Sambo, Obispo, Gaari, Floranus; Comenencia, J Bacuna, L Bacuna; Chong, Gorre, Antonisse
Where to watch Germany v Curacao
Germany versus Curacao kicks off tomorrow night at 6pm UK time. You can watch it on ITV 1 or stream via ITVX.
Click HERE for a full World Cup TV guide
Stats for Germany v Curacao
- Germany have won the World Cup four times, the joint-most for a European nation alongside Italy. Overall, only Brazil have lifted the trophy on more occasions (5).
- Germany will make their 21st World Cup appearance, more than any other European nation and second only to Brazil (23) overall. Since last missing the tournament in 1950, Germany have advanced beyond the first round on 16 of the last 18 occasions, though have failed to reach the knockout stages in both 2018 and 2022.
- Despite being eliminated after the group stage at the last World Cup, Germany ranked fourth in expected goals over the whole tournament (10.1). Their 3.4 xG per 90 minutes were the highest of any nation, ahead of Brazil (2.20) and eventual champions Argentina (2.15).
- Curaçao reached the World Cup finals for the very first time – they are the smallest nation by both area and population to ever reach the finals of the tournament.
- Curaçao are the first CONCACAF debutants at the World Cup since Panama in 2018, while they are looking to become the first side from that confederation to progress from the group stage in their debut since Costa Rica in 1990 (round of 16).
- As well as scoring the most goals in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying (28), Curaçao also led the way for expected goals (22.7), while their four goals from high turnovers was only bettered by Costa Rica (6).
Prediction for Germany v Curacao
It should be a case of ‘how many’ for Germany in the first genuine mis-match of the tournament. Curacao will battle hard but Germany’s quality ought to tell.
Prediction: Germany 5-0 Curacao
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