Only a win will do against Curacao as Germany kick off World Cup campaign

BOSTON – Germany will look to start their World Cup campaign on June 14 with a big win over Curacao, with the four-time champions out to repair their damaged international reputation following first-round exits in the previous two editions.

The Germans, who won the 2014 edition, have set their sights on a fifth world title even though they do not see themselves as among the favourites this year.

They could not have hoped for easier first opponents than minnows Curacao, the smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup. Ecuador and Ivory Coast complete Group E.

Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany are on a nine-match winning run, including a 4-0 victory over Finland in their last friendly at home on May 31 and a 2-1 win over World Cup co-hosts the United States.

Curacao are rank outsiders, with most of their players plying their trade in the Netherlands or in lower European leagues.

But veteran coach Dick Advocaat, who at 78 will become the oldest coach in World Cup history, relishes facing Germany in their tournament start.

“Germany are, of course, clear favourites in the group,” the Dutchman said.

“They are still a big footballing country. Starting off against Germany is fantastic. We will find out immediately where we stand.”

Advocaat knows there is a massive gap in quality, which Germany, with world-class players such as Kai Havertz, Florian Wirtz and Manuel Neuer, want to take advantage of to get their tournament off to a winning start.

“We aren’t among the absolute top favourites – there are three or four others,” said Germany national team director Rudi Voller, a 1990 World Cup winner with West Germany. “But we know how important an opening win is.

“We are here and want to be a team that is difficult to beat. We want to top our group and then assert ourselves in the knockout stage.”

Any result other than victory could prove tricky in the group while also instantly piling pressure on the Germans, with fans back home desperate to see their team return to winning ways after their last two early exits.

“The two wins from our last two friendlies give us a good feeling and we want to maintain that here,” Voller added.

“There is no guarantee if you win the first game that that is the way the tournament will go for you. We have to go through the group as the top team, there is no discussion about that. That is our goal.”

One talking point for Germany is their attack.

Forward Deniz Undav’s likely World Cup debut was not even a distant dream four years ago but the 29-year-old is now ready to crown his unusual career with a presence on the biggest stage of all.

Undav, who looked to have dropped out of contention for a Germany spot when he was not called up for matches in 2025, is now the team’s most in-form striker and looks set for a starting spot against Curacao.

Four years ago, he was plying his trade in the Belgian second division and World Cup participation looked a distant prospect.

“When I think about where I was just four years ago, I could not have imagined I would be here,” Undav said.

“Now we have the first game and we want a win and have success with the national team.”

Undav, a versatile player, enjoyed a superb Bundesliga season with VfB Stuttgart to earn back his Germany spot, scoring 19 times in the league to finish second in the scorers’ list behind Bayern Munich’s English striker Harry Kane (36 goals).

Undav had joined Stuttgart in 2023, initially on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion. REUTERS, AFP