KANSAS CITY (United States) — Curacao arrived at the World Cup as quirky no-hopers, but their remarkable exploits have captured the hearts of fans and put the tiny Caribbean island firmly on the map.
Dick Advocaat’s men, against all the odds, still have a chance to reach the knockout phase after holding Ecuador to a 0-0 draw in Kansas City.
Goalkeeper Eloy Room proved an impregnable last line of defence, making 15 saves as Curacao held a team ranked more than 50 places higher than them to a stalemate.
Fans, vastly outnumbered by yellow-clad Ecuador supporters, celebrated wildly in a stadium that can hold nearly half of Curacao’s population of around 160 000.
It was a dramatic turnaround after the World Cup newcomers were humiliated 7-1 in their opening match against Germany.
Veteran Dutch boss Advocaat had urged supporters to be realistic before Saturday’s match against Ecuador, who finished second in South American World Cup qualifying.
But his team showed grit and adventure on a captivating evening at the Arrowhead Stadium – the home of NFL team Kansas City Chiefs.
The final whistle sparked wild celebrations, with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands joining players in the dressing room.
Curacao is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Out of the 26-strong squad, 25 were born in the European nation and many play there.
Livano Comenencia, who became a hero after scoring against Germany, hailed Curacao as “history makers” after their historic draw in America’s Midwest.
“It means everything,” said the Zurich defender. “One point at a World Cup, it’s history. We already made history with the first goal and now with one point as well.”
And he stressed that the dream was not yet over, with a decisive match against Ivory Coast still to come. “We still have to believe in it. We have to do it,” he said.
Miami FC forward Jurgen Locadia said Curacao had created a “lovely little chapter”, pointing to their strengths.
“We have the heart of our homeland. And we’ve gone through the Dutch youth academy. That’s a good combination,” he said.
Supporters of the Blue Wave are enjoying the wild ride.
Sue Vandaalen, 38, an accountant from Curacao, told AFP that even making it to the World Cup was a “win” for the island.
“We’re totally happy and we’re blessed to be here, so it feels really good,” she said.
