The ultimate David versus Goliath clash as four-time winners Germany open their World Cup campaign against the smallest nation ever to qualify for the global showpiece.
Die Mannschaft are expected to steamroller the tiny island in the south Caribbean but Curacao’s vastly experienced Dutch boss Dick Advocaat is giving off a quietly confident vibe.
“That we start against Germany is fantastic,” said the 78-year-old. “We know straight away where we stand. We want to go through to the next round and a surprise is always possible.
“We are not without a chance. There’s a lot of ambition in the team and if you have ambition you can achieve a lot.”
Curacao’s status as a constituent island within the Kingdom of the Netherlands adds an element of spice with Germany being a traditional rival of the Dutch, as does the fact all but one of their squad were born across the border in Europe.
Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room told Bild: “For Germany, it is a game against the Netherlands MkII because almost all our player were born there. This creates a special rivalry and explosiveness – and gives us greater motivation.”
The pressure is all on Germany, especially given their recent World Cup record, although most fans accept they are behind the leading sides such as Spain, France and Argentina.
“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 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.”
Germany warmed up with friendly wins over Finland and the USA.
“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.”
Team news for Germany v Curacao
Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer, controversially recalled for the tournament, is expected to shrug off a calf problem to start in goal for Germany.
Curacao have no problems to report and Advocaat can select from a fully fit squad.
Predicted line-ups for Germany v Curacao
Germany: Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown; F Nmecha, Pavlovic; Sane, Musiala, Wirtz; Havertz
Curacao: Room; Sambo, Obispo, Gaari, Floranus; Comenencia, J Bacuna, L Bacuna; Chong, Gorre, Antonisse
