Curaçao face Germany in historic World Cup debut

The day has arrived

Curaçao makes World Cup history Sunday, facing Germany in the Group E opener. Kickoff is 7pm local time in the US. The smallest nation ever to qualify for a men's World Cup, population 160,000, steps onto the biggest stage against a four-time champion. This is real. This is happening. (1) (3) (14)

Advocaat: 'An upset is always possible'

Dick Advocaat is not here to be a feelgood story. "We want to advance to the next round," he said ahead of the match. "An upset is always possible. And an upset could be all it takes to advance. We have a chance." He added: "The fact that we're playing Germany right at the start is fantastic. We'll know immediately where we stand." (6)

Bacuna: we're here for a reason

Captain Leandro Bacuna echoed his manager's defiance. "We are full of confidence. We qualified for a reason, unbeaten through the whole qualifying process. My experience is that when you play as the underdog, you don't know what's going to happen." His message in Dutch was even simpler: "We have a lot of confidence." (7) (8)

Locadia leads the line

Jurgen Locadia is expected to start up front as Curaçao's main goal threat. The former Netherlands youth international, once capped by the Dutch at senior level in a friendly, switched allegiance and is now the focal point of Advocaat's attack. (1) (4)

The projected XI

Advocaat is expected to set up with Eloy Room in goal, a back line featuring Riechedley Bazoer, Armando Obispo, and Deveron Fonville, with Juninho Bacuna and Leandro Bacuna anchoring midfield. Tahith Chong and Locadia provide the attacking thrust. The exact shape remains Advocaat's secret, but the core is battle-tested from an unbeaten qualifying campaign. (4)

Germany's side of the story

Julian Nagelsmann confirmed Jamal Musiala starts despite acknowledging the Bayern Munich star "still has a few steps to go. But he can only take them if we let him play. We trust him completely." Manuel Neuer captains the side at 40 years old, becoming the oldest German player ever to feature at a World Cup. Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz, and Joshua Kimmich are all expected to start. (9) (10) (12)

Dancing controversy back home

Not everyone is happy with the buildup. Videos of Curaçao players celebrating in camp have drawn criticism from former international Hedwiges Maduro, who said bluntly: "Post videos of yourselves training, too, it's not Dancing with the Stars." The players and staff have dismissed the noise, but it adds a layer of tension to an already charged occasion. (13)

Nothing to lose, everything to gain

Every Curaçao fan knows the math: Germany are overwhelming favorites. But this team went unbeaten through qualifying. They have a coach who has seen everything. They have a captain who believes. And they have 160,000 people back home who never thought they'd see this day. Whatever happens, it's already a miracle. Might as well chase another one. (5) (7) (14)