This is the match Germany needed. Hosts of Euro 2024, knocked out in the quarterfinals by Spain on home soil in the most painful manner imaginable, Julian Nagelsmann's Germany arrive at this World Cup carrying the collective grief of a nation that has been waiting four years to remind the football world that they still matter. They have a new generation — Florian Wirtz, finally finding his footing at Liverpool after a slow start, Jamal Musiala in his second tournament, Kai Havertz available after a complicated eighteen months of injuries at Arsenal. The old guard — Müller, Kroos, Gündoğan — are all retired. This Germany is new. This Germany is hungry.
Curaçao are at their first ever World Cup. The Dutch Caribbean island, population around 150,000, qualified through CONCACAF in one of the tournament expansion's most genuinely heartwarming storylines. Their players share heritage with the Netherlands, have played across European lower leagues, and carry the pride of an entire island nation. They will not simply roll over. But this is Germany in a World Cup opener, and Germany's openers tend to end in one direction only.
Wirtz at Liverpool finally looks like the player Bayer Leverkusen's supporters knew he was. Musiala provides the unpredictability in the final third. Havertz — when fit — gives them aerial presence and technical ability that no one else in the squad replicates. Without Müller's leadership, the energy comes from the collective. Nagelsmann's Germany are intense, high-pressing, and will absolutely not allow Curaçao a moment of comfortable possession.
Their CONCACAF qualification run was genuinely extraordinary — a tiny island nation competing against Central American and Caribbean nations with far greater football infrastructure. Their players are scattered across European leagues, united by a collective passion for the Curaçao shirt. They will be organised, they will be disciplined, and they will be outclassed. But they will be here, and that alone is the story of their tournament.
Germany score early, score often, and rotate their squad for the final twenty minutes to protect everyone's legs. Musiala gets one. Havertz gets one. Wirtz gets one and almost gets two. Curaçao earn a standing ovation and go home knowing they were part of something historic. The Galáctico tips his hat. Then gives Germany 4–0 and moves on.
Germany Have Not Looked This Motivated Since 2014 and the Galáctico Is Treating Them as a Genuine Contender. New generation, no legends to hide behind, a score to settle after Euro 2024. Wirtz at Liverpool, Musiala improving every year. There are ten teams at this tournament who could win it. Germany are one of them. The couch is on record.
Curaçao Will Score a Goal at This World Cup, Just Not Tonight Against Germany. The Galáctico believes in them. He genuinely believes they'll nick one past someone in this group. But not in Houston, not against Nagelsmann's press, and not with Wirtz finding his Liverpool form at exactly the right moment.
Manuel Neuer Playing a World Cup at 40 Is the Most German Thing That Has Ever Happened. He sustained a calf injury before the tournament. Nagelsmann said he'd be fine. The man played through a broken leg once. A calf injury is not going to stop him. The gloves will be on Neuer's hands at 1 PM in Houston. The Galáctico has no doubts about this.