For the little Caribbean country with a population the size of Middlesbrough, there will always be that moment on a Sunday afternoon in Houston. Those standing in the two little pockets of blue will always be able to say that they were there that day, when their boys scored against the four-times World Cup winners.
We seemed to be living in a parallel universe in that beautiful, giddy moment. The exuberant Curacao journalists’ celebrations looked like they might send them tumbling through the plastic screens separating the press box from the crowd. Supporters of the Blue Wave, as the team are known, were delirious. Yet just as their team of heroes attacked Germany again, the Moroccan referee called a hydration break and a stadium strings and brass ensemble struck up.
Madness. Beautiful madness. And in another very material sense, cursed madness, because the break took the momentum out of a moment when Curacao actually looked like they might about to take advantage. Briefly, in Houston, the Germans most certainly did have a problem.
Instead, they had their drinks, took a breath, got down to business, won the match and football’s world order was restored. The Curacao media, who had recovered their poise, seemed resigned of all this though they had reason to feel the sting of injustice.
There had been something of the Alamo about it all from the start, with Kai Havertz dropping into the pockets and the Curacao defence not knowing what to do for the best. But Curacao flew into tackles as if their island’s honour depended on it and were rapid on the counter-attack.
The goal, from Livano Comenencia of FC Zurich, pointed to a German defensive problem which has been well chronicled. The side are so attack-minded that they present opportunities which better sides may exploit. Nico Schlotterbeck was casual in the moment of danger, poking the ball into Comenencia’s path to score. Manuel Neuer was certainly also at fault.
Germany thrashed World Cup minnows Curacao 7-1 in their opening match on Sunday night
The Caribbean island scored a stunning equaliser to make it 1-1 midway through the first half
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None of which can obscure an emphatic opening from a side who arrived here chastened by failing to progress from their past two World Group stages. A side who demonstrated the galaxy of attacking talents in the way they move for each other to open up space. Havertz’s contribution was the finest.
For those of a Liverpool disposition, there was a reminder of what a confident Florian Wirtz can looks and plays like in a successful attacking team. Not just the delicious weight of the pass which sent in the Borussia Dortmund player Felix Nmecha to open the scoring, and the shot he bent a few inches wide soon afterwards. An easy poise and awareness were restored. Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United have looked at Nmecha but a £60million price tag looks prohibitive. He looked like he could make up for Germany’s lack of a natural centre forward.
Havertz, who converted the third from the spot after Nathaniel Brown’s corner was glanced on by Nico Schlotterbeck, is the leader now. Behind him, Jamal Musiala looked like he has something to bring, too. He deconstructed Jurgen Klopp’s suggestions that he is not fully enough rehabilitated from a broken leg sustained at last summer’s Club World Cup to warrant a starting place. The Bayern Munich player was sharp, cutting inside to curl a fourth.
But it was the intuitive movement and incisive interplay which really struck you, as German pulled their opposition’s defenders apart. Deniz Undav’s flick into the path of Nathaniel Brown, who volleyed in the fifth, was divine. The finish, excellent for a left-back, explains why Brown, who is close to joining Bayern Munich, has been an Arsenal target.
It was a becalmed stadium by then, a training routine devoid of much atmosphere, with a German Mexican wave surpassing any noise the Blue Wave contingent could muster and the way FIFA has priced out many who might have been here for Curacao revealed itself as a scandal. There were 2,000 empty seats.
The Dutch had done all they could to support the island, their former colony, which remains an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. All but one of the team were born in the Netherlands and five of the players in Ronald Koeman’s Oranje side, including Justin Timber and Nathan Ake, could also have played for them. A few of such calibre and they might perhaps have nicked a point or two out here, though are unfortunate to find themselves facing Ivory Coast and Ecuador now. They will be struggling.
Despite the big defeat, the blue wave brought the party to their first game in World Cup history
Germany showed no mercy in the second half, netting four times to extend the lead to 7-1
Somehow, Dick Advocaat, managing the side at the age of 78, 28 years after leading the Dutch team to USA ’94 as a 50-year-old, must bring some order to the five-man back line who were eventually overrun. It was a question of how long they could maintain their defensive intensity. The second half was not long gone when they ran out of fuel.
Havertz carved out the sixth, squaring a ball Deniz Undav squeezed past defenders on the line, then raced through to despatch the seventh. There will be moments for the German coaching team to comb through on Monday. A free-kick by Jeremy Antonisse which was missed by Joshua Kimmich, allowing Leandro Bacuna a header which he sent over the top.
But for a Germany whose tournament prowess had become lost, this is a most blessed restorative. That brief mid-afternoon aberration in the Texan sunshine will be forgotten.
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