With oldest coach in World Cup history, tiny Curacao take on towering Germany in party spirit

Curacao, a Caribbean island of just 160,000 people, faces a monumental task in their World Cup debut against four-time champions Germany on Sunday. The match, taking place in Houston, is being hailed as a fairytale encounter, made possible by FIFA's expansion to 48 teams.

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We are a nation that loves to have a little bit of a party as well. We love to have fun.

Despite the overwhelming odds, Curacao's players are embracing the occasion with a carefree spirit. Viral social media posts showed them singing and dancing on their team bus, a reflection of their national character. "We are a nation that loves to have a little bit of a party as well," said captain Leandro Bacuna. "We love to have fun."

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The team spirit in this team is something I've never seen before. As a country we will give everything to win for the island, but we're not the favourite.

Their coach, 78-year-old Dick Advocaat, is the oldest coach in World Cup history. He acknowledged Curacao is not the favorite but expressed confidence in his team's unique spirit. "The team spirit in this team is something I've never seen before. As a country we will give everything to win for the island," Advocaat stated.

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This is a German Cup situation. David versus Goliath.

Germany's coach, Julian Nagelsmann, likened the match to a German Cup tie, calling it a "David versus Goliath" situation. He cautioned his squad, emphasizing that favoritism alone does not guarantee victory. Germany's veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is set to make his fifth World Cup appearance.

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You never win a match just because you're favourites.