Germanys Demolition of…
June14June 15, 2026

Germanys Demolition of…

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ESPN Soccer News

  • Bill ConnellyJun 14, 2026, 04:59 PM ET

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      Bill Connelly is a writer for ESPN, covering college football, soccer, and tennis. He has been with ESPN since 2019.

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HOUSTON — In a striking underdog performance, Curaçao initially held their ground in a challenging match against the powerhouse Germany, suffering a 7-1 defeat.

In a historic moment, Livano Comenencia scored the first-ever World Cup goal for the smallest nation to qualify, momentarily causing Germany to reflect on their previous World Cup exits in 2018 and 2022.

However, the giants quickly regained their composure, dominating the match in front of a crowd of 68,021 fans. Germany took control for good with Nico Schlotterbeck‘s header in the 38th minute, with a torrent of goals following, including a second from Kai Havertz in the 88th minute.

“After the match, we sang ‘The Train Has No Brakes’ (‘Der Zug hat keine Bremse‘),” commented Germany’s head coach Julian Nagelsmann. “We aimed to keep moving forward with no brakes.”

Comenencia’s early goal served as a test of Germany’s resilience.

“Curaçao equalized with what I believe was their first attempt at our goal, and it was fascinating to see our reaction,” Nagelsmann noted. “We worked hard to rediscover our attacking rhythm and responded effectively to regain our lead through a crucial set piece.”

Several German players posted standout performances worthy of recognition. Havertz scored late in each half, first converting a penalty to bring the score to 3-1 before sealing the deal on a breakaway in the 88th minute. Meanwhile, Felix Nmecha opened the score and earned the penalty for Havertz, making three shots on goal, completing 36 of 38 passes, and executing three tackles.

Despite criticism from German legends like Thomas Müller and Jurgen Klopp regarding recent performances, Jamal Musiala shone brightly, scoring shortly after halftime, creating two chances, winning nine out of 14 ground duels, drawing two fouls, and completing three tackles as Germany effectively shut down Curaçao’s counterattacks after the 20-minute mark.

“I thought he played excellently,” Nagelsmann said. “He had some promising opportunities, kept persisting, and finished beautifully after halftime.”

The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams raised concerns that while it increases inclusivity, it could also lead to more mismatch blowouts. Curaçao was among four debuting nations alongside Cape Verde, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, entering the match ranked 82nd globally.

Sunday’s match showcased the potential benefits and drawbacks of this expansion. Germany has historically racked up impressive World Cup victories, including a 6-0 win over Mexico in 1978 and an 8-0 victory against Saudi Arabia in 2002, along with another 7-1 win over Brazil in 2014. However, Curaçao’s first outing was a hard lesson. Still, Comenencia’s goal will shine forever in their history, and the Curaçao fans contributed to a vibrant atmosphere throughout the match.

“We had plenty of German supporters,” Nagelsmann remarked, “but the Curaçao fans were also fantastic. It created an emotionally charged start to the World Cup. When you achieve such a result and experience an emotionally rich atmosphere for the whole match, there’s always a sense of satisfaction.”

Curaçao manager Dick Advocaat emphasized the importance of moving forward and maintaining confidence.

“We need to remember that we’re crafting a solid campaign, and there’s still potential for surprises in the subsequent matches,” he said. “However, it could just as well play out without surprises. We’re proud to participate in the world’s largest event.”

“In five or six days, there will be another match where they can perform even better.”

With three points and a favorable goal differential, Germany’s progress to the knockout rounds is nearly assured, although a positive result against Ivory Coast is still needed to maintain control in Group E.