Germany have not won an opening World Cup match since the 4-0 win over Portgual in 2014. In 2018 and 2022, their slow starts cost them and would eventually lead to their elimination in the group stages. The EURO 2024 quarterfinalists were perhaps fortunate to be drawn to play island nation Curaçao first, but the failures of the last two tournaments were always going to remain in the minds of the players.
Germany needed an early goal to settle the nerves. So Felix Nmecha stepped up.
The Borussia Dortmund
midfielder and Florian Wirtz combined to set up Nmecha, who curled a wonderful, precise shot from the edge of the area into the back of the net. It was a goal borne from the highest of technical excellence and phenomenal precision. The goal would not be the winner, but it would put the Germans on the path to a big 7-1 victory.
After the match, @iMiaSanMia captured Nmecha’s joy: “I’m very happy, I’m just starting to realize what happened. It was a very special moment for me, my family and for the team. We want to go game by game and hopefully play the best possible tournament.”
The goal difference and the victory put Germany in a wonderful position to qualify from the group stages for the first time since 2014. But Nmecha is at least right in saying that the team needs to maintain focus on the upcoming matches. Nothing is secure yet.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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