Germany 7-1 Curaçao - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings
Germany 7-1 Curaçao - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings
The Houston Stadium in the Lone Star State welcomed four-time World Cup winning Germany and World Cup debutants Curaçao for the opening match of Group E. Germany soared past Curaçao who looked like they might have got something from the game early on. Curaçao manager Dick Advocaat made history by becoming the oldest manager at a FIFA World Cup.
Let's Dive into the Match Report and the player ratings, determine who the man of the match was, and determine who needs to go and have a look in the mirror.
🥹 Dick Advocaat was in tears before Curaçao's World Cup opener against Germany.
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Footballtweet) June 14, 2026
The 78-year-old led the island nation of just 150,000 people to their first-ever World Cup, calling it the most unbelievable achievement of his near 40-year managerial career.
However, in February,… pic.twitter.com/kGXfeCziZN
In the first half, Germany started on the front foot as expected, having two half chances inside the first 2 minutes. After an emotional national anthem resounding through Texas, the occasion appeared to be overwhelming Curaçao.
In the 6th minute a slick one-two between Nmecha and Wirtz saw the former curve one past a statuesque keeper for the opener.
The match continued in the same vein, with sporadic breaks from Curaçao before Nmecha had a second shot from outside the box, missing the target and shortly afterwards a toe poke shortly afterwards was easily gathered. Shortly after Germany's assertion, a costly mistake at the back was punished by a crisp left footed strike beyond the reach of Manual Neuer. by Livano Comenencia of FC Zürich's Livano Comenencia scored the goal for Curaçao, their first ever in the World Cup.
1-1 Curacao.
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) June 14, 2026
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAL COMENENCIA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS HISTORICAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEIR FIRST EVER WORLD CUP GOAL IN THE NATIONS HISTORY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS THE WORLD CUP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🇨🇼💫 pic.twitter.com/9fQY73WJ6a
A rash challenge in the box shortly after the equaliser went unpunished and the water break brought the normal momentum stoppage to both teams. After the break, Germany continued to press, with Nico Schlotterbeck gliding a tame header over the bar.
Towards the end of the first half, Curaçao had a chance to equalise but Middlesbrough striker Sontje Hansen couldn't steer his shot away from Manuel Neuer. Instantly after this, Germany went down the other end and wopn a penalty. Arsenal striker Kai Havertz stepped up and calmy slotted the ball into the back of the net to give Germany their third goal, and potentially open the floodgates for the side ahead of the second half.
Halftime Score: Germany 3-1 Curaçao
Shortly after the second half started, Germany picked up where they left off.
Jamal Musiala got on the end of a fantastic ball by Joshua Kimmich and blissfully slotted the ball into the bottom left corner of the net. As the game went on, Germany began to dominate. After a wonderful move with an array of passes, Denis Undav executed a beautiful flick into the path of Eintracht Frankfurt's Nathaniel Brown who made a late run into the box to drill the ball into the goal and seal Germany's fifth.
Shortly after that, Undav grabbed one himself as Kimmich laid him off in the box to make it 6, and then at the death of the game Kai Havertz made it a brace and Germany got 7.
Germany pummelled Curaçao in a game that will may become very important for both teams when considering goal differences towards the end of the group stage.
Full Time Score: Germany 7-1 Curaçao
Germany Player Ratings
- Manuel Neuer (6)
- Joshua Kimmich (9)
- Jonathan Tah (7)
- Nico Schlotterbeck (9)
- Nathaniel Brown (9)
- Aleksandar Pavlovic (8)
- Felix Nmecha (9)
- Leroy Sané (7)
- Jamal Musiala (8)
- Florian Wirtz (8)
- Kai Havertz (9)
- Deniz Undav (9)
- Antonio Rüdiger (6)
- David Raum (6)
- Leon Goretzka (6)
Curaçao Player Ratings
- Eloy Room (4)
- Sherel Floranus (4)
- Riechedly Bazoer (3)
- Armando Obispo (5)
- Deveron Fonville (4)
- Tahith Chong (7)
- Livano Comenencia (7)
- Leandro Bacuna (6)
- Juninho Bacuna (6)
- Sontje Hansen (6)
- Jürgen Locadia (6)
- Jeremy Antonisse (6)
- Jearl Margaritha (6)
- Gervane Kastaneer (6)
Man Of The Match - Kai Havertz
The striker has taken his good end of season form with Arsenal into the World Cup, Havertz was flawless today. Havertz recorded two goals, leaviing him tied for the World Cup top scorer with Folarin Balogun.
If Havertz can keep it up, then he will be a real asset to Germany's quest for their fifth World Cup.
Bad Day In The Office - Riechedly Bazoer
It felt wrong to give this to goalkeeper Eloy Room as there's only so much you can do with a wafer thin backline in front of you, therefore, centreback Riechedly Bazoer may just need to go back to the drawing board. Bazoer switched the Netherlands for Curaçao last summer as he hadn't featured for Oranje since 2016.
At 29-years old, Bazoer has played for a host of clubs in the Eredivisie. Unfortunately for him, he was found dumbfounded many times by the German attack, but his approach will need refining if Curaçao are to do the unthinkable and qualify for the knockouts.
Harry Pascoe 
Joe Ryan 
