Germany put on a masterclass of controlled, high-tempo football at a sweltering NRG Stadium in Houston, dismantling debutants Curaçao 5-0 in their Group E opener. Julian Nagelsmann's side pressed relentlessly from the first whistle, suffocating Curaçao's attempts to build from the back and turning the match into a showcase of Germany's generational attacking talent. Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala were electric in the half-spaces, constantly interchanging and pulling Curaçao's defensive shape apart. Kai Havertz was the beneficiary of much of that creativity, converting a penalty after Musiala was fouled by Bazoer, then adding a clinical second-half finish fed by Sané's driving run. Curaçao, to their credit, stayed organised for long spells and showed genuine spirit — Eloy Room made several sharp stops to keep the score respectable before the hour mark — but the gulf in quality was simply too vast. Germany's performance sends an emphatic early statement to the rest of Group E and the wider tournament.

• Germany registered 72% possession — their highest in any World Cup group opener since 2014.
• Wirtz–Musiala combined for 3 goal contributions between them, confirming their status as the tournament's most dangerous creative duo.
• Kai Havertz's brace (penalty + open play) takes him to 22 international goals — a new career high.
• Curaçao managed just 4 shots all game, none on target until a speculative 84th-minute effort from Chong.
• Germany's high press won the ball back 18 times in the final third — a dominant territorial display.
• Maximilian Beier's late cameo goal underlines Germany's depth across all attacking positions.