Germany hammer Curaçao 7-1 in World Cup opener as Havertz bags brace

HOUSTON (AP): Germany opened their World Cup campaign yesterday with a commanding 7-1 victory over Curaçao, a result that helped erase memories of a tight opening half and offered a lift after the four-time champions failed to progress from the group stage at the last two tournaments.

Kai Havertz struck twice as Germany eventually pulled clear of Curaçao, who were playing at the World Cup for the first time. The tournament’s smallest-ever participant stayed level at 1-1 until the 38th minute before Germany took control.

“We really needed this convincing win,” coach Julian Nagelsmann said. “We needed this self- confidence. It was there, but it definitely grew.”

Nagelsmann said the performance also mattered to German supporters.

“We have to show them that we can perform and we have to have the confidence,” he said. “I think we’re in a better spot than we were entering this match.”

Curaçao had their big moment in the 21st minute when Livano Comenencia drove a left-footed effort through bodies from the middle of the box to make it 1-1. It was Curaçao’s first World Cup goal, and it sparked wild celebrations among fans of the small Caribbean nation.

“Even though it wasn’t me, it felt like it was me, it was all of us, the whole island, everybody,” Curaçao's Jearl Margaritha said. “We screamed our lungs out. So we were happy.”

Germany then regained command. Nico Schlotterbeck headed in Nathaniel Brown’s corner in the 38th minute to restore the lead. The final score still finished below the World Cup mark of 11 goals in a match, which has been reached three times, most recently when Hungary defeated El Salvador 10-1 in 1982.

Havertz converted from the penalty spot in first-half added time for 3-1 after Riechedly Bazoer brought down Felix Nmecha in the area.

Germany added another almost immediately after the break, Jamal Musiala scoring in the 47th minute with a right-footed shot across the goalkeeper’s area.

Brown made it 5-1 in the 68th minute. The 22-year-old, whose father is American, had stated before the tournament that he would play for the country where he was born and raised by his mother.

Deniz Undav scored in the 78th minute, and Havertz completed his double in the 88th.

The win gave Germany a strong opening statement against underdogs Curaçao as they try to rebound from group-stage exits in Russia and Qatar after winning the 2014 title.

“We are on the right path, but of course, there are things that we can do better, and we will have stronger opponents,” Nagelsmann said.

Nmecha had put Germany in front in the sixth minute, finishing with his right foot toward the near post from just inside the upper box after being set up by Florian Wirtz.

Most of the 68,021 spectators backed Germany, though Curaçao also had an energetic group of supporters in the stands.

The game was the first of the tournament at Houston Stadium, the venue usually known as NRG Stadium and home of the NFL’s Houston Texans.

Manuel Neuer, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who returned from international retirement for the World Cup, made one save in his first Germany appearance in almost two years. The fixture also set a World Cup record for the biggest age difference between coaches, with Curaçao’s 78-year-old Dick Advocaat, the oldest coach in tournament history, facing 38-year-old Nagelsmann, the youngest coach at this year’s World Cup.