Germany Revive Memories of 7-1 Rout

Four-time champions Germany opened their World Cup campaign with a commanding victory. The Germans thrashed Curacao, the smallest nation in the expanded 48-team tournament, 7-1 in Texas, United States. Despite the heavy defeat, Curacao took some satisfaction from scoring against a football powerhouse like Germany. The scoreline also echoed Germany’s famous 7-1 victory over host nation Brazil in the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup.

Germany, who exited in the group stage of the last two World Cups, took the lead in the sixth minute through Felix Nmecha. Florian Wirtz set up the goal, and Nmecha fired a right-footed shot into the net from the right side of the penalty area.

The lead, however, did not last long. Curacao's Livano Comenencia stunned Germany with an equalizer in the 21st minute. But Germany regained the lead in the 38th minute when Nico Schlotterbeck headed home from a Nathanael Brown corner. Kai Havertz then extended Germany’s advantage from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time.

Germany’s star forward Jamal Musiala found the net immediately after the restart. Nathanael Brown joined the scoring parade in the 68th minute. Substitute Deniz Undav added Germany’s sixth goal in the 78th minute. Havertz struck again in the 88th minute to complete the rout and bring back memories of Brazil’s infamous 7-1 defeat.

Germany’s biggest victory in World Cup history remains their 8-0 win over Saudi Arabia in 2002. Their second-largest margin of victory came in the 2014 World Cup semifinal against host nation Brazil, which ended 7-1. By losing by the same scoreline, Curaçao shared in the painful memory that once haunted Brazil.