Curaçao lands in Florida, Germany awaits Sunday

Sunday is real

Curaçao's World Cup debut is five days away. The smallest nation ever to qualify for a men's World Cup opens its tournament against Germany on Sunday, June 14 (1) (3). Let that sink in. A country of roughly 160,000 people, a team written off by everyone, walks into the biggest stage in football against a four-time world champion. Dick Advocaat and his squad have already made history just by being here.

The squad has landed

The delegation touched down in Florida on Monday and the vibes are immaculate. A video shows the team pilot dancing with defender Victor Garcia as the players arrived on US soil (4). Advocaat's side comes in on the back of a 4–0 demolition of Aruba in their send-off match, described locally as a permanent explosion of joy. The squad is traveling with a fantastic feeling, and why not? They've already defied every odd.

Scotland friendly stings

Curaçao fell 4–1 to Scotland in an international friendly ahead of the tournament, with Lawrence Shankland netting twice (6). Not the result anyone wanted, but friendlies are friendlies. The real business starts Sunday.

Germany are not taking this lightly

Julian Nagelsmann has been talking up Felix Nmecha ahead of the opener, telling him he's never seen a player of his size move so fluidly (3). Lothar Matthäus has also heaped praise on the midfielder. Nagelsmann is expected to field a strong XI featuring Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, and Kai Havertz (1) (3). Germany knows Curaçao has nothing to lose. That's what makes this dangerous.

The group of dreams

Curaçao is in Group E alongside Germany, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast (5). The Guardian's Football Weekly podcast has already previewed the group, and you can bet the narrative is the same: Curaçao is just happy to be there. But Advocaat didn't bring his nephews to the World Cup to make up the numbers.