HOUSTON — Germany routed Curaçao 7-1 on Sunday before 68,021 fans, dominating after a brief early scare from the debutant nation. Livano Comenencia scored Curaçao’s first-ever World Cup goal, briefly leveling the match and prompting memories of Germany’s group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022, but the Germans regained control and pulled away.
Felix Nmecha opened the scoring for Germany before Nico Schlotterbeck’s 38th-minute header from a corner put the team ahead for good. Kai Havertz converted a penalty late in the first half to make it 3-1 and added a second goal on a breakaway in the 88th minute to finish the scoring.
Several German players produced noteworthy stat lines. Nmecha had three shots on target, completed 36 of 38 passes and made three tackles while drawing the penalty that Havertz converted. Jamal Musiala scored early in the second half, created two chances, won nine of 14 ground duels, drew two fouls and completed three tackles, prompting praise from coach Julian Nagelsmann.
The match illustrated both the benefits and drawbacks of the World Cup’s expansion to 48 teams. Curaçao, one of four first-time qualifiers along with Cape Verde, Jordan and Uzbekistan, entered the tournament ranked 82nd in the FIFA world rankings. Germany has recorded large World Cup wins in past tournaments, but Curaçao’s heavy defeat underscored concerns about mismatches even as Comenencia’s goal and the Curaçao supporters helped create an emotional atmosphere.
Curaçao coach Dick Advocaat urged his team to move on and remain confident, noting another match would come in five or six days and that participation in the tournament was significant. With three points and a healthy goal differential, Germany is all but assured of advancing to the knockout rounds.
