The scoreboard read 7-1 before anyone had properly settled into their seats. Germany opened their FIFA 2026 World Cup campaign by dismantling Curaçao, who were making their debut at the tournament, in a performance that left little room for doubt about where the Germans stand this summer.
Curaçao arrived at this stage of world football for the first time, a milestone worth celebrating on its own terms. But the occasion turned into a harsh welcome, with Germany clinical and relentless from the first whistle to the last.
A seven-goal margin tells its own story. Germany are announcing themselves as serious contenders, and the rest of the tournament is already on notice.
Originally published by BusinessDay.