HOUSTON — Julian Nagelsmann said Germany’s 7-1 win against World Cup debutants Curacao will grow his charges’ self-belief as they seek a fifth title.
Since lifting the World Cup for the fourth time in their history 12 years ago in Brazil, Germany have struggled on football’s biggest stage and failed to progress beyond the group stage at the last two editions.
“We really need this self-confidence. I think it grew, it was definitely there but it grew,” Nagelsmann said after Germany thrashed Curacao to record their first opening-match win at a World Cup since 2014.
Stiffer tests than the tiny Caribbean nation against Ecuador and Ivory Coast lie in wait for the Germans in Group E, but Nagelsmann said that his side’s “intensity” against Curacao boded well for the rest of the competition.
“I’m very satisfied with us scoring seven goals and our performance for the most part,” the 38-year-old said according to AFP. “A winning start is always important and we’re glad we managed it.
“We played with the right intensity. I think we can have a good tournament.”
In Houston, an early German goal by Felix Nmecha was cancelled out by a deflected strike from Livano Comenencia.
However, Nico Schlotterbeck, Kai Havertz with a double, Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown and Deniz Undav scored to put to bed any possibility of one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history.
Nagelsmann added that his side dealt well with the pressure of being overwhelming favourites against Curacao.
“The team was not nervous,” he said.
“When you write it down Curacao had easier conditions, I think we do have high quality, one team has high expectation and the other does not. And that is a bit tricky.”
Germany next play 2023 Africa Cup of Nations champions Côte d’Ivoire in Toronto on Saturday.
