Germany Demolish Curacao 7-1 as Wirtz Shines and Nmecha Catches United's Eye

Germany opened their World Cup campaign with a scoreline that will linger in the memory for all the wrong reasons as far as Curacao are concerned, sweeping aside the Caribbean minnows 7-1 in a performance that was, frankly, as comprehensive as it was one-sided.

Florian Wirtz announced his presence on the grandest stage with a display of such casual brilliance that Liverpool supporters must have found themselves in two minds – questioning where this version of the £100m midfielder has been hiding during his Premier League stint, yet simultaneously relieved he hasn't completely abandoned the standards Andoni Iraola will hope to rebuild. The 23-year-old's opening assist, a delightfully weighted pass to Felix Nmecha in the sixth minute, epitomised his evening: intelligent positioning, impeccable timing, and an almost irritating sense of ease about everything he did.

Nmecha's finish was clinical – a first-time strike into the far corner – but it was Wirtz's movement that created the space, acting as a cultured decoy to draw defenders before threading the ball perfectly into his teammate's path. Later in the opening half, a sumptuous through ball to Leroy Sane showcased the playmaker's vision in full effect, a quality that's been decidedly absent during his 12 months in English football.

The Borussia Dortmund midfielder Nmecha himself was the evening's standout performer. Quick feet, composure, and an appetite for the contest made him a constant menace, and his display will have done nothing to dampen Manchester United's interest. The Red Devils have maintained contact with the German club regarding a summer move, with reports suggesting Dortmund might entertain offers around the £60m mark, despite a release clause in Nmecha's newly extended contract (which runs until 2030) set at £69m for 2027, dropping to £60m the year after.

Curacao, the smallest nation ever to compete at a World Cup with a population of just over 150,000 compared to Germany's 83 million, did briefly flicker. Their supporters experienced 17 minutes of genuine belief after Livano Comenencia's deflected strike levelled matters, a moment born from one of several counter-attacks that exposed a German defence playing with six attackers on the pitch. Nico Schlotterbeck, currently the subject of Real Madrid's attentions with a £50m fee mooted, was particularly culpable, floundering twice before the ball reached Comenencia's boot.

Schlotterbeck made amends, powering home a free header from Nathaniel Brown's corner to restore the lead, and thereafter the floodgates opened. Kai Havertz, continuing his remarkable run of scoring in consecutive major tournaments, converted a penalty before the interval. Joshua Kimmich's threading pass sent Jamal Musiala away to add a third early in the second half, and when Brown – fresh from an agreed €55m (£47m) move to Bayern Munich – lashed in a brilliant volley, Germany were in complete control.

Denis Undav, introduced from the bench, added his own goal before teed up Havertz for a dink over the goalkeeper to make it 7-1, matching Germany's infamous 2014 demolition of Brazil in the semi-final. Brown's explosive running down the left flank, combined with the interchanging of Wirtz, Havertz, and Musiala through the middle, paints a picture of an attacking outfit capable of troubling anyone.

Nmecha, in particular, caught the eye. He won the penalty from which Havertz scored after showing sharp footwork to skip past one defender before being brought down by another. His confidence visibly soaring, he later forced another chance from an absurdly tight angle in the second half. The Manchester City academy product's journey – via Wolfsburg from 2021 before joining Dortmund in 2023 for approximately £25.9m – has done nothing to discourage United's long-standing admiration, with Michael Carrick and INEOS viewing him as a more affordable midfield option than alternatives like Elliot Anderson or Sandro Tonali.

Emma Hayes described Germany's display as "near perfection" from the ITV studio, while Juan Mata suggested they're now genuine contenders to lift the trophy. There's substance to such optimism – this was as good a start as any team could muster. Yet context matters. The expanded 48-team format has produced precisely the kind of mismatch that gives ammunition to critics of Gianni Infantino's vision, and Curacao, despite their spirited 17-minute cameo, ultimately belonged nowhere near this stage.

Germany's remaining Group E fixtures against Ivory Coast and Ecuador will provide a more reliable barometer of their credentials. For now, we have a brilliant opening act – but nothing more.