Press reviews: 'Germany suffocates the small rebellion'

Germany's commanding performance in their opening World Cup match has drawn widespread international attention, with media outlets highlighting the team's strength and ambition. The "ruthless four-time world champion" delivered a "brutal lesson" to the underdog Curaçao, sending a "clear message" to their rivals, according to the Daily Mail. The Sun noted that Kai Havertz scored twice as Germany overcame an early shock to "overrun the football dwarf."

The Guardian observed that after an initial scare, Germany "really took off" against Curaçao. The Los Angeles Times reported that Germany "went on a scoring spree" after a strong start from Curaçao, while USA Today declared that Germany "demolished" the World Cup newcomer, marking the tournament's first "crushing victory."

Despite the lopsided scoreline, Curaçao's debut in the World Cup finals was a historic moment for the island nation. Curacao.nu highlighted that "thousands of fans created an impressive atmosphere for 90 minutes." The outlet noted that the team will look back on this as a "historic day," especially after Comenencia scored Curaçao's first-ever World Cup goal. The publication acknowledged the "difficult defeat" but emphasized the significance of the debut.

Italian sports paper Gazzetta dello Sport commented that Curaçao "dreamed briefly after the first World Cup goal, then the German goal avalanche broke loose." The paper added that the opening win "banishes the ghosts of the past and makes unpleasant memories fade," particularly referencing Germany's group-stage exits in the previous two World Cups. Spanish outlet Marca stated that Germany "suffocated Curaçao's small rebellion with sovereign dominance," concluding that Nagelsmann's team "gave the Caribbean debutant no chance."