The net rippled and Curaçao’s bench exploded in every conceivable direction, their giddiness underpinned by a firm awareness of the goal’s place in history. Livano Comenencia had just equalised against Germany and an island of about 158,000 inhabitants, represented here by an accomplished group born almost entirely in the Netherlands, could revel disbelievingly in the moment it had dreamed of.
Reality eventually bit, Julian Nagelsmann’s side declaring on seven goals and easily avoiding an embarrassment that would have far outdone their group-stage exits in the previous two World Cups. Germany will surely reach the knockouts this time and could have made absolutely certain by adding several more. Nagelsmann will be pleased that threats emanated from all around the pitch, half a dozen scorers bearing testament to that, but it should go without saying that more accurate tests of strength will have to be navigated over the next month. Kai Havertz, rounding things off neatly with his second goal, will hope to be similarly efficient later on.
