GERMANY 7-1 CURACAO: Julian Nagelsmann's side got their World Cup campaign off to a storming start but it was Curacao's equalising goal which was the big talking point20:32, 14 Jun 2026Updated 20:32, 14 Jun 2026Germany's World Cup bid got lift off in Houston thanks to a thumping triumph over minnows Curacao.‌But this game won't be remembered for what everyone expected to happen. It will live long in the memory for what shouldn't have. An equalising goal from Livano Comenecia that sent an entire Caribbean nation into delirium - and a footballing powerhouse into complete shock.‌In the end Julian Nagelsmann's side romped clear, to avoid suffering what would have been a major problem in Houston. But for a few beautiful minutes, this had threatened to become the biggest shock in World Cup history.‌The chances of David slaying Goliath here in Texas had felt impossible. To put this game into context, Curacao were making their debuts in a competition Germany had won four times.While Curacao could have fit half their entire population into the Houston Stadium. As it turned out, around 7,000 had made the trip from the Caribbean island to witness a historic moment for all those associated with Curacao.Curacao have been riding on the back of their slogan 'The Blue Wave'. But it was a white one which swept across the pitch instead.‌It took the Germans just over five minutes to go ahead. Felix Nmecha ran onto a deft lay-off from Florian Wirtz to curl a beautiful strike into the far corner.Dick Advocaat might be 78 and the oldest manager in World Cup history, but even his experience could do nothing to stop the predicted onslaught. Nmecha, Leroy Sane and then Wirtz all came within a whisker of doubling Germany's lead, as Nagelsmann's men queued up to score.‌Then the unthinkable happened - and Curacao equalised.Comenecia took his shot at glory thanks to some slack defending from Nico Schlotterbeck, and delivered one which rifled past the great Manuel Neuer, to leave the Germans shell-shocked. Cue bedlam.When the hydration break came, Nagelsmann probably felt like downing something much stronger than water.‌But normal service resumed before half time when Schlotterbeck restored Germany's lead and Kai Havertz extended it from the penalty spot, after Riechedly Bazoer had tripped Nmecha.Jamal Musiala made it four, and this had become all about damage limitation for Advocaat's underdogs.‌But Germany's quality and class was too much, with Nathaniel Brown and substitute Deniz Undav helping themselves to goals, before Havertz completed the rout with his second of the afternoon.The smallest nation to ever reach a World Cup will always have their moment in the sun, however, thanks to Comenecia.The Germans, meanwhile, have failed to get out of the group stages in the past two tournaments, piling huge pressure on Nagelsmann to change the narrative around a football powerhouse.Article continues belowBut thanks to this thumping win, he's halfway towards doing this already.Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.