Germany made a confident start to their World Cup campaign with a 7-1 win over tournament debutants Curacao in Group E.
Felix Nmecha opened the scoring just six minutes in, but Germany were stunned when Livano Comenencia levelled with Curacao’s first ever World Cup goal.
It was a jubilant moment for a nation with a total population of 160,000 who have become the smallest to ever reach and score at the World Cup.
However, a Nico Schlotterbeck header and Havertz penalty soon restored Germany’s advantage before half-time.
Just over a minute into the second half, Jamal Musiala slotted the ball into the far corner from Joshua Kimmich’s threaded pass before Germany struck again in the 68th minute when Florian Wirtz’s pass was flicked by Denis Undav to Nathaniel Brown, who hooked a volley into the bottom corner.
Nathaniel Brown celebrates after putting Germany 5-1 up against Curacao
A comfortable display saw further goals in the second half from Undav and Havertz as Germany wrapped up three points in their first Group E game.
The key moments from Houston…
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6: GOAL! Nmecha settles any early nerves against the minnows with a quality curling strike
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21: GOAL! Comenencia makes history for Curacao by scoring their first ever World Cup goal
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38: GOAL! Schlotterbeck heads Germany back in front
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45+1: GOAL! Havertz opens his account for the World Cup from penalty spot
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47: GOAL! Musiala tucks away a fantastic finish from the angle after Kimmich pass
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68: GOAL! Brown appears up the pitch from left-back to volley home
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78: GOAL! Undav comes off the bench to make it 6-1
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87: GOAL! Havertz races away and clips home to seal the comfortable victory
In pictures: Curacao’s moment to remember
Analysis: A goal frenzy but are Germany shaky at the back?
Sky Sports’ Adam Bate:
This was a difficult game to assess because on the face of it that was emphatic from Germany and there were some superb finishes but they also looked a little vulnerable at the back.
Would a better team than Curacao expose those frailties? Maybe we will find out as this tournament progresses. But Germany’s attacking prowess has sent a message.
Wirtz was dictating matters in the final third, flanked by the direct running of Musiala and Sane. Germany have an excellent balance in attack.
For now, it is a big win for Julian Nagelsmann’s side on what was a historic day, nevertheless, for Curacao.
