Anyhow, Nick Ames’ report is in…
… which means we’re finished here. Thank you for joining us and sharing your comments – apologies for not including them all, but please keep them coming – and enjoy the next game!
“but did you really say if Curacao keep their composure against Ecuador you never know? The same Ecuador that finished second to Argentina in the South America qualifiers, ahead of Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia? Hmmm… I highly doubt it…” begins John Donnelly, “It would have been interesting to see how Germany would have coped without the first-half water break,”
While “They were actually reeling a little before that, and totally regrouped and regained momentum after the break. It’s crazy how we have accepted three-minute quarter breaks as just a routine part of the game. This game was played inside with climate control!” is not a decisive statement, it’s important to remember that Quito is the second-highest capital city in the world; Kansas City is not. However, it’s clear that Ecuador is the strong favorite.
“Despite the scoreline, Curaçao continue to work hard and see out the match with intensity and desire. Lovely to see” muses Luke Jones. “Comenencia has now scored more goals against Germany than Messi, CR7, Zlatan, Henry, Iniesta and Wayne Rooney… combined,”
There’s little doubt that I share the view with others. It provides an artificial advantage that is unearned, and the individual responsible, Gianni Infantino, doesn’t seem to understand that football’s existence is not solely for profit; it generates revenue because of its intrinsic value.
Rob Smyth is gearing up for the Netherlands vs. Japan match, which promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the group stages.
That said, at just 18, Lamine Yamal, although not at his peak, is already worth noting.
Moreover, two nations renowned for their attacking flair, Brazil and the Netherlands, have one such talent, Vinicius Jr, between them. Overall, we’re likely missing several all-time greats at their zenith, but the depth of talent available is remarkable.
I can’t recall a World Cup with so many potential champions – and aside from the teams already mentioned, keep an eye on Morocco, USA, and Cote d’Ivoire, all of whom can challenge traditional powers. Numerous countries now boast exceptional players, and the athleticism required to counter them has become widespread.
Do Germany appear to be contenders? Historically, the best teams tend to improve as the tournament progresses, and it’s rare that the leading side in the initial matches ends up lifting the trophy. Musiala has the ability to win any match for them, alongside the excellent Pavlovic, but I wouldn’t fancy their chances against France, Portugal, or Spain, and I believe England and Argentina could also pose a threat.
I found this match enjoyable. As Peter Oh writes, “including WC, Euro, and friendlies.” – and I concur. There was no loss of composure, and if they maintain their focus against Ecuador, who knows what could happen?
Germany may be advancing, but if the group stages yield a more uplifting moment than Curacao’s equalizer, we’ll consider ourselves fortunate – and we can almost guarantee that they will.
90+5 min Raum, who nearly scored earlier, clearly fancies himself a World Cup goal … no, he chips over the wall, but an awkward bounce takes the ball away, and that’ll be full time.
90+3 min Germany are aiming for eight, fiercely engaging in challenges and pushing players forward. They’ll want this to be a statement victory and win a free-kick just outside the D, slightly left of center…
90+2 min The most astonishing aspect of that Germany 7-1 Brazil game is that Brazil returned for the second half. At 5-0, surely you just do a mass runner?
90 min We’ll have five additional minutes.
Are Curacao now as formidable as Brazil? Goretzka slides into a hard challenge, dispossessing Antonisse, and when the ball breaks loose, Undav expertly slips a pass through to Havertz, cutting through the middle. He skillfully holds off the defender, moving slightly wider, making his finish more challenging, but he waits until the keeper is committed, then expertly lifts the ball over his dive, a refined version of his Champions League final goal.
88 min I seldom feel this way about 6-1 drubbings, but this has been an entertaining match, with Curacao hanging in for nearly a half and Germany finishing their chances well, the entire game played at a decent pace.
86 min Undav drifts left and sends a pass behind for Raum, who shoots low and hard … straight at Room, who makes a solid save with his feet.
84 min I guess we’re gaining insight into Nagelsmann’s preferences – the players not participating today seem least likely to feature during the tournament. I was hoping to see Angelo Stiller, someone I believe could excel in slower-paced matches, but I’m not surprised to see Goretzka deployed instead.
83 min Another substitution for Curacao, Kastaneer replacing Chong, while Germany introduces Anton for Kimmich.
80 min I’ve been impressed by Cote d’Ivoire lately – they will provide a good challenge for Germany when they meet on Saturday at 9pm BST.
Havertz crosses low from the left. Despite the ball running between various attackers, Kimmich retrieves it. A poor first touch ruins his chance to score, but he squares it for Undav, who is lingering near the six-yard box, finishing off the defender for his seventh goal in his last seven international appearances.
75 min “Nagelsmann changed his shirt at half-time! Was he reading the MBM?” states Waw Waw, “With public broadcaster ARD here in Germany having simply shocking commentators,”
Meanwhile, Curacao is looking for another goal, with Margaritha attempting a curler from the left of the box, narrowly missing the far post.
74 min A triple substitution for Germany, with Tah, Nmecha, and Schlotterbeck making way for Rudiger, Raum, and Goretzka.
72 min Back to Michael Meagher, who remarks, “I elected to watch their kids’ channel stream with a 12-year-old on co-comms. Far more bearable – oh, plus he said “Scheisse!”
It’s the only reasonable conclusion to draw, but what does the writing say?
70 min …and so he is. The goal stands, and it’s now time for a water break, though it’s not particularly hot. I daresay Curacao are relieved.
69 min Was Brown offside? I believe he’s on, just…
69 min But VAR wants to take a look…
Wirtz punches another pass into the box, and Undav’s skillful first-time flick sets up Brown, who keeps his knee above an awkward bouncing ball to lace a fine finish into the far corner.
68 min Curacao found the net, but the naked eye indicates Leandro Bacuna was miles offside. Meanwhile, Michael Meagher emails…
67 min The other teams in this group, by the way, are Ecuador and Cote d’Ivoire, who meet in about four and a half hours. If Curacao maintains a similar level of performance, they might yet surprise us.
65 min Changes: Germany brings on Undav for Musiala, who requires protection, and Curacao introduces Margaritha for Locadia.
63 min Tah spots Sane running off the shoulder and delivers a beautiful ball that finds him! He takes a shot, steadies himself, opens his body, and aims for his first World Cup goal into the far corner … except he sends it wide. It will be a long time before you see as clinical, emphatic a miss.
62 min Curacao finally attack again and win a free-kick on the left. Antonisse delivers, Leandro Bacuna rises to meet it … but the ball is behind him, and he can only twist to send it over.
61 min I haven’t seen much of Brown, but I’ve heard plenty about him. As a promising German player, he’s about to do what most of them do: leave the club that developed him, Eintracht, to join Bayern. I’m uncertain what that means for Alphonso Davies, but it would be a solid choice.
60 min Havertz slides into Brown, who is running off Floranus and into the box, but there’s a bit too much on the ball, and I think he’s offside anyway.
58 min I wonder if we might see Wirtz thrive in this environment. We know he possesses brilliant imagination and touch around the box – the challenge for him has been the pace of the game in England, coupled with his relative physical and defensive weaknesses. I worry he may be a player around whom a team needs to be built, which is not something the strongest teams tend to do.
56 min “Making the most of the country’s spotlight,” shares Francis Lee, “I would encourage people towards the liberatory literature of Elis Juliana, the music of Oswin Chin Behilia and Izaline Calister, the genre-universe of tambú. Smallness is not the opposite of greatness.” when Curacao grabbed that surprise equaliser.”
This sounds incredible. Is it on YouTube?
54 min Germany is pushing for five, Nmecha having a shot blocked while Havertz fires wide when the ball comes back to him. It’s reminiscent of when England defeated San Marino 7-1 in 1993 – all anyone remembers is Davide Gaultieri’s goal.
52 min “Making the most of the country’s spotlight,” suggests Daniel Voskoboynik, “I would encourage people towards the liberatory literature of Elis Juliana, the music of Oswin Chin Behilia and Izaline Calister, the genre-universe of tambú. Smallness is not the opposite of greatness.”
Absolutely not – I look forward to exploring that material after we conclude here, but in the meantime, feel free to share any playlists you have.
50 min A quickly taken free-kick sees Nmecha advance down the side of the box, unleashing a rising shot that Room deflects away.
