Germany Defender Tah: Don't Underestimate Curacao, But We Will Win World Cup Opener

Germany defender Jonathan Tah urged caution against underestimating Curacao in their upcoming World Cup Group E opener on Sunday, June 11. While acknowledging the Caribbean islanders as a worthy opponent, Tah expressed strong confidence that the four-time champions will begin the tournament with a victory.

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We had a team discussion yesterday on Curacao and it is a good team with players who have been trained in the Netherlands. But we are the favourites and I am confident we will win the match.

Germany is particularly motivated to start the competition strongly, having suffered surprising first-round exits in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. A convincing win against Curacao is seen as essential to set the right tone for their campaign. Curacao, a self-governing part of the Netherlands with a population of just over 150,000, qualified for the World Cup with players who are all Dutch nationals and coached by Dick Advocaat, making them the smallest nation ever to reach the tournament.

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I see in the Germany team many players with a lot of quality, a lot of players at their peak and a few playing their last World Cup. You have a mix that is really good. Everyone is just looking forward to it.

"We had a team discussion yesterday on Curacao and it is a good team with players who have been trained in the Netherlands," Tah stated during a press conference. "But we are the favourites and I am confident we will win the match." Fellow defender Nico Schlotterbeck echoed this sentiment, noting the team's blend of experienced players and those in their prime. "You have a mix that is really good. Everyone is just looking forward to it."

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There is no pressure. We are going into this with confidence and on Sunday we want to show how good we are.

Despite the anticipated hot weather in Houston, with temperatures expected around 30 degrees Celsius, the German players emphasized their singular focus on the opening match. Both Tah and Schlotterbeck stressed a lack of pressure, instead highlighting their confidence and determination to perform. "We are going into this with confidence and on Sunday we want to show how good we are," Schlotterbeck said. He added, "We should not be hiding from anyone. We are a top, top, top team and we have been showing the German virtues on the pitch once again after a very long time. We have discipline, passion and ability to resist and if we show our German virtues then we are well placed."

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We should not be hiding from anyone. We are a top, top, top team and we have been showing the German virtues on the pitch once again after a very long time. We have discipline, passion and ability to resist and if we show our German virtues then we are well placed.