WORLD CUP PLAYER RATINGS | Germany 7-1 Curaçao – Germany open their World Cup campaign with a comfortable win against debutants Curaçao | OneFootball

Germany kicked off their World Cup campaign with a game against tournament debutants and minnows Curaçao in Houston, as they look to begin their tournament with a much-needed win, and a first win in their group opener since 2014, when they beat Portugal 4-0.

The game started as you would expect, with Germany’s dominance translating into several chances, and they were able to break down the Caribbean side’s defence pretty quickly when a layoff from Florian Wirtz was curled in by Felix Nmecha to make it 1-0.  

However, it was clear that some of the German players were getting pretty excited about the chance to score, and this meant they were flooding forward and leaving plenty of room for Curaçao. Dick Advocaat’s side then did the unthinkable and equalised through Livano Comenencia to make it 1-1. The midfielder’s goal came from a Curaçao counter, where the ball then deflected into his path, and his shot easily beat Manuel Neuer.

Germany then upped the ante, but Curaçao were able to hold strong until a corner was won when a Kai Havertz shot was deflected out by former Wolfsburg player Riechedly Bazoer. The corner was then be headed in by Nico Schlotterbeck to give Julian Nagelsmann’s side the lead once again, on top of it being his first goal for Germany.

Just before the break, Havertz gave the four-time winners a comfortable lead when he converted a penalty after Bazoer fouled Nmecha in the box. 

After the half-time interval, Jamal Musiala got on the score sheet when he coolly slotted past the Curacao keeper after he was played in by Joshua Kimmich. 

Germany could have made it 5-1 when a long Jonathan Tah ball was brought down by Leroy Sané, but the winger, 1v1, through on goal, missed. 

After providing an assist for Schlotterbeck’s first goal of his Germany career, Nathaniel Brown then scored his first goal too, making it 5-1 following a layoff from Deniz Undav. The Stuttgart striker then turned scorer when he turned in a Kimmich cut back from close range to make it 6-1. Havertz then got his second of the game, as he would link up with Undav, who played him through, and the Arsenal forward chipped the keeper to make it 7-1.

The win will give Germany much-needed momentum, as this was the first time they have won a World Cup group opener since the 2014 World Cup, which they went on to win. 

What this game did show, is this team probably still needs some honing, mainly in the attack, and mainly with Sané being in the squad, Julian Nagelsmann has been a fierce defender of the winger, but even today showed that there a better options of the bench, such as Undav, who combined well with Havertz when he was subbed on in the 64th minute.

Germany’s next game is on June 20th against the Ivory Coast in Toronto, a game which will not be as one-sided. 

Germany Player Ratings

Manuel Neuer (5), Joshua Kimmich (7), Jonathan Tah (6), Nico Schlotterbeck (6), Nathanial Brown (7), Aleksandar Pavlovic (6), Felix Nmecha (7), Leroy Sané (4), Jamal Musiala (6), Florian Wirtz (6), Kai Havertz (6)

Others: Deniz Undav (7), Antonio Rüdiger (5), Leon Goretzka (5), David Raum (5), Waldermar Anton (-)

GGFN Man of the Match: Nathaniel Brown (7)

In his first-ever World Cup game, and only his fourth-ever start for the national team, Brown repaid the faith shown in him by Julian Nagelsmann. The 22-year-old first showed his dead-ball skills when his corner found the head of Schlotterbeck to give Germany the lead, while he then demonstrated his attacking ability when he found himself in the Curacao box to score Germany’s fifth goal of the evening. 

You can see why Bayern Munich are interested in spending neart €55m for him this summer. 

On top of this, all of this happens in America, the country where he holds nationality, too. 

GGFN | Jack Meenan