Germany's thumping win over Curacao first step in quest to repair damaged World Cup reputation

[p]It was the ‌four-time champions' [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/curacao-bLLGpOkQ/germany-ptQide1O/?mid=dtiRRcc6"]first opening win at a World Cup in 12 years[/a] and ‌stretched their winning run to 10 consecutive matches.[/p][p]The Germans, ‌who next play [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ivory-coast/G2FRjBgn/"]Ivory Coast[/a] before taking on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ecuador/8tbm8Tri/"]Ecuador[/a], have set the ‌goal of winning the World Cup as they look to ‌repair their damaged international reputation following shock first-round exits at the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="7588831f-3d9b-4b52-8878-1d909efa1f3a" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="ea8a9b06-eae0-4a38-bae4-328a8db2c81f" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]They have failed to make any impact in international tournaments ‌since winning their last of four world titles, ⁠in Brazil in 2014.[/p][p]They managed ‌to overcome early nerves against the smallest nation ever to qualify for ​a World Cup.[/p][p]The Germans could have scored more in the first half were it not for sloppy finishing ​and glaring misses before improving after the break.[/p][h2]Musiala starts[/h2][p]Coach Julian Nagelsmann opted to start with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/musiala-jamal/nVzSNrOf/"]Jamal Musiala[/a] and leave in-form striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/undav-deniz/tUHAdtMH/"]Deniz Undav[/a] ⁠on the bench but ​the former is still looking to recover his past top form following a six-month absence after breaking his leg a year ago.[/p][p]Their overall performance will have eased the German fans' concerns after their recent ‌early exits but Nagelsmann knows the next two matches will be far more challenging.[/p][p]There was also good news regarding 22-year-old midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brown-nathaniel/nwlyAsLt/"]Nathaniel Brown[/a] who delivered the best performance in his still young international career with a goal and an assist.[/p][image alt="Momentum charts" id="5fe4260f-249f-4d88-9194-21878bc779b2" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="e4e33547-210e-48bb-9fe5-f98e40ed32d7" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Brown was a surprise addition to the squad after forcing his way into the team with a string of superb [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/eintracht-frankfurt/8vndvXTk/"]Eintracht Frankfurt[/a] performances. His combination with substitute Undav for the fifth goal was equally promising.[/p][p]Undav, ‌who has now scored three goals in the last three matches, ​missed out on a starting spot but delivered the ‌assist to Brown before scoring himself and setting up [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/havertz-kai/rH8BZWiI/"]Kai Havertz[/a] with another assist for the seventh goal.[/p][p]Undav finished as the Bundesliga's second-best scorer behind [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kane-harry/v5HSlEAa/"]Harry Kane[/a].[/p][p]While it makes little sense to read too much into this victory, the rout ⁠has certainly raised the Germans' ⁠confidence and given them ‌a healthy goal difference in the group.[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]