Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann refused to get carried away after his side opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a commanding 7-1 victory over Curacao, insisting the four-time world champions must continue improving if they hope to contend for another title.
Germany delivered one of the most dominant performances of the tournament so far in their Group E opener on Sunday, overwhelming Curacao with an explosive second-half display after overcoming an unexpected setback before halftime.
Nagelsmann’s team raced out of the blocks and appeared in complete control during the opening stages, creating numerous scoring opportunities. However, Curacao stunned the Germans by equalizing after falling behind, briefly raising doubts before Germany regained its composure to take a 3-1 lead into the break.
The second half turned into a one-sided exhibition as Germany’s relentless attacking play produced four additional goals, sending a strong message to the rest of the tournament while reinforcing the nation’s status among the leading contenders for the trophy.
“It was a great start to the game. The first 15 minutes were fantastic,” Nagelsmann said after the match. “We had many attempts. The equalising goal from Curacao was unexpected, but it was fascinating to see how the team reacted to it.”
Rather than criticizing the underdogs, Nagelsmann praised Curacao for exceeding expectations and challenging his players with an adventurous approach.
“Curacao played better than many people in Germany expected, and they played differently than they had before and with courage,” he said. “It is not easy to score seven goals, so we are quite satisfied.”
Despite the emphatic scoreline, Nagelsmann emphasized that Germany remains a work in progress. He believes his squad is moving in the right direction but acknowledged that far sterner opposition awaits as the tournament progresses.
“We are on the right path but there are things we can do better and we will have tougher opponents in the tournament,” he said.
The Germany coach highlighted his players’ patience after Curacao’s equalizer, noting that maintaining composure proved just as important as their attacking quality. Once his side increased the tempo after halftime, the gulf in class became increasingly evident.
“One team has very high expectations and one doesn’t, and that is tricky,” Nagelsmann said. “At 1-1 we had to be patient, and the team really wants to give 100%. We played with the right intensity. If we do that we can have a good tournament.”
Germany entered the World Cup seeking to add a fifth title to those won in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014. Following disappointing exits from recent major tournaments, Sunday’s convincing victory offered renewed optimism among players and supporters alike.
Nagelsmann said the result could provide a valuable psychological boost after months of preparation and growing expectations surrounding his young squad.
“We really needed this convincing win, and the confidence it will give us,” he said. “That confidence was always there, but it has grown. It was important to show the people in Germany that we can perform.”
The celebrations extended into the stands after the final whistle, where German supporters serenaded the team with a chant declaring that “the train has no brakes,” a reference to the momentum they hope their side can maintain throughout the tournament.
“After the game, there was a song from the German fans called ‘the train has no brakes.’ We will try to do that, to keep going and going in this tournament,” Nagelsmann said.
Germany will have little time to reflect on the impressive opening victory as attention quickly turns to their next Group E fixture against Ivory Coast in Toronto on Saturday, where a win could move the former champions another step closer to the knockout stage.
