Julian Nagelsmann, coach of the German national team, opened up after a 7-1 thrashing of Curacao in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup.
Julian Nagelsmann, coach of the German national team, said he was pleased with his team's performance after their decisive 7-1 win over Curacao in the first Group E match of the 2026 World Cup. He noted the victory boosts confidence for upcoming games in the tournament, as tougher challenges await.
Nagelsmann said, "It was an excellent start to the game. The first 15 minutes were fantastic, and we had many chances to score. Curacao's equalizer to make it 1-1 was not unexpected, but it was interesting to see how our team responded."
"Curacao played better than many in Germany anticipated. They played differently than before and showed courage. Scoring seven goals is not easy, so we are quite satisfied."
"We are on the right track, but there are still things we can improve. Stronger opponents await us in this tournament."
"One team (Germany) has very high expectations, while the other (Curacao) has lower expectations, which makes it challenging. When the score was 1-1, we had to play with patience and the right intensity."
"We wanted a decisive victory like this because it boosts our confidence. We already had confidence, but now it’s even stronger. It’s very important to show people in Germany that we can play well. We will keep moving forward."