14.06.2026, 22:30 Uhr
Curaçao may have lost big against Germany in their first ever World Cup match but the smallest ever country at the tournament took immense pride and being there and even scoring a goal against the four-time champions.
The final score in Houston was 7-1 but Livano Comenencia's strike in the 21st minute past living legend Manuel Neuer, with a little help of a deflection from Germany captain Joshua Kimmich, will never be forgotten in the Caribbean island of 150,000.
"We can be proud to plqay against a nation like Germany and score a goal. It is something historic," captain Leandro Bacuna told German broadcasters ARD.
"We will look into the mirror and see what we can do better," he added, looking at the other group games against Ecuador and Ivory Coast.
A fan only identified as Maria told ARD after the game in Curaçao's capital of Willemstad that "we won by scoring a goal" and that that the match and the goal will give the country confidence in football and other sports such as baseball.
Coach Dick Advocaat had surprised the Germans with a formation more offensive than expected and they managed to expose German defensive problems on some occasions.
"They played better and different than expected," Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann admitted.
Advcaat, at 78 the oldest ever coach at a World Cup and with a wealth of experience, said he chose the tactics because "we knew we would lose if we only defend. But it didn't work out in all areas."
He readily admitted that the German attacking firepower was just too much although "it is not good to lose 7-1."
Advocaat originally stepped down after two years in March for personal reasons but returned last month after countryman Fred Rutten resigned following protests.
"For the country it was unbelievable," he said post-match. "The most important thing now is that we defend better."
Source: Dpa-international.com
