- 8 hours ago
World Cup 2026 - Germany vs Curacao Full Match ( ⚽ 1st Half )
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00:00I'm testing me
00:02Only got one shot
00:04And I know what I believe
00:05Then we'll keep on fighting
00:08While the world is watching
00:12I know everything is meant to be
00:14We'll stand together
00:16We'll stand the pressure
00:18When your flame's up in the sky
00:20Let fate decide
00:22So we say
00:24You're not gonna break
00:27And we're standing here today
00:28Well a chance for Germany
00:30To try and set the record straight
00:32After what's happened
00:33At the last two FIFA World Cups
00:35Incredibly not being able to make it
00:38Out of the group phase
00:40But the signs have been there
00:43Under Julian Nagelsmann
00:44Coming into this
00:45Nine wins on the bounce
00:47They got to the quarterfinals
00:49Euro 2024
00:51But this is where they really have to step up
00:54And deliver when the eyes of the world
00:57Are on them
01:07Our match officials today
01:10Largely from Morocco
01:12Jalal Jayad
01:14The man in the middle
01:23And in the VAR hub
01:26Operations there
01:27Being led by Hamza El-Faric
01:44So what of the teams
01:46Well Manuel Neuer is the only remaining link to Germany's 2014 triumph
01:50And makes his first appearance
01:52In 709 days
01:54Having come out of international retirement
01:56He could be joined at Bayern next season
01:58By Nathaniel Brown
01:59Who gets the start at left back over David Rahm
02:01Leroy Sane with three goals in his last five appearances
02:05And in from the off
02:06And joins Jamal Muziala and Florian Wirtz
02:09As the trio
02:10Behind Arsenal's Kai Havertz
02:13Who scored twice at the last edition
02:15Four years back
02:17These are the eleven
02:18Given the honour of starting Curacao's first ever World Cup match
02:22Eloy Rooms in goal
02:23The oldest in the squad
02:24The entire back four
02:26All played their club football in the Netherlands
02:28Tahith Chong
02:29Is the creative spark
02:31And the only Curacao form player in the squad
02:34The Bakuna brothers
02:35Leandro and Juninho
02:37Had a wealth of experience
02:39Jürgen Lacadia of Miami FC
02:41Leads the attack
02:42Their top scorer in qualifying
02:44Jervain Castaner
02:45Is on the bench
03:00This the very definition
03:03Of David and Goliath
03:10Curacao
03:11Led by Dick Apricot
03:1382nd in the FIFA World Rankings
03:17Germany 10th
03:27Joshua Kimmich
03:28Leading Germany
03:34Leandro Bakuna
03:35Wearing the armband
03:37To Curacao
03:38The countdown is on in Houston
03:41And this place knows a thing or two
03:43About countdowns
03:48The home of NASA's
03:50Mission Control
03:53Known as Space City
03:55And we have lift off
03:58At the FIFA World Cup
04:012026 in Houston
04:03Gonna see a lot of that from Eloy Rooms tonight
04:05In goal for Curacao
04:07Because he's hitting everything long
04:09In all games prior to this
04:11And the Germans are gonna try to jump on
04:13The nerves
04:14And maybe the pressure
04:15That is built here
04:16In this huge opportunity
04:18For Curacao early
04:28Well the Germans keen to point out
04:31In the lead up to this game
04:33They will not be underestimating Curacao
04:36We will relish the challenge here
04:39No question
04:40But Paul you can't
04:41These are all players that grew up
04:43In the Dutch system
04:44Many of them
04:4595% of the squad
04:46Is from the Netherlands
04:48They play on clubs
04:49In various places
04:50So these are prideful football players as well
04:53I mean they're here to compete
04:54They've already achieved
04:55Mission Impossible
04:56And now they have opportunity here
04:58And I say the word opportunity
05:00Against a four time World Cup winning Germany
05:33So going long
05:34Back to Lucario
05:35You just can't make those kind of emotional mistakes
05:41On this day or in this World Cup
05:45Go flip inside and Brown has found a gap
05:47And gone through it
05:48Squared across
05:49And Curacao just about scramble it clear
05:52And look to break away
05:54And this is where they can be dangerous
05:57And Debra and Fonville
05:59Sent sprawling
06:01You said it Paul
06:02They have runners
06:03So if Germany over commits here tonight
06:05They have guys that can break out
06:07In wide positions
06:08Up front as well
06:10Here's the foul
06:11So it's really about survival here
06:13In the first minutes of this one
06:14For Curacao
06:15But man when that ball turns over
06:18The Germans have to be very very conscious
06:21That there are footballers that can move
06:24That can run
06:24And can hit them in transition
06:26Common MC with a lovely ball down the line
06:29Lucario looking to cause a problem
06:31He's followed closely by Schotterbeck
06:33Chong
06:36And calmly intercepted by Brown
06:39But you can feel
06:41The energy from the Curacao
06:43And supporters in here
06:45And the players clearly feeding on it
06:47As we see Jürgen
06:48Julian Nagelsmann rather
06:50The youngest head coach
06:51At this FIFA World Cup
06:53Facing the oldest
06:54In Dick Advocat
06:5640 years between them
06:57Incredible storyline
06:58And of course
06:59Nagelsmann in Germany
07:01Everything scrutinized beyond belief
07:03Dick Advocat is the experienced hand
07:06He has shown belief to these young players
07:09And older players of Curacao
07:10It's a project he wanted to be a part of
07:14And
07:15He met with Eloy Room
07:17The goalkeeper
07:17Prior to it
07:19And Eloy Room
07:20Walked away from that meeting
07:22As an old member of this team
07:23And a veteran
07:24Saying
07:25Wow
07:25I love the support that he feels
07:28He really feels
07:29He can take us to a World Cup
07:31And thus he did
07:33Vietz
07:33For Musiala
07:36Well won back by
07:38Leandro Bakuna
07:39Who's looking to drive away
07:40But was stopped in his tracks
07:42Musiala
07:43He's still getting back to
07:45Full fitness
07:46There is a feeling he's not
07:47Quite where he needs to be yet
07:49Having
07:51Broken his leg in the States
07:54At last summer's Club World Cup
07:56Following a collision with
07:57The goalkeeper
07:58Gianluigi Donnarumma
08:01And
08:02Musiala's inclusion
08:03Has been a
08:04Hot topic
08:04In the build up to this game
08:06Some very
08:08Notable
08:08High profile people
08:10In the media
08:12Former pundits
08:13Having their say
08:15On whether Musiala
08:15Should start
08:16But there was absolutely
08:17No doubt
08:18In Julian Nagelsmann's mind
08:20That he was going to play
08:21From the off
08:22Yeah
08:23Thomas Muller
08:23And Lothar Mateus
08:24Both taking
08:25Different
08:25Yeah, why not
08:27These guys aren't afraid
08:28To being named
08:29I mean
08:29These guys are all
08:31Legends of the game
08:32I mean
08:32That's what makes Germany
08:33And these countries
08:34Great soccer playing nations
08:35Everybody's got an opinion
08:37Canino Bakuna
08:38Looking for the straight ball
08:40Down the middle
08:42Inko Schlotterbeck
08:43There to
08:45Intersect
08:46Oh, a lovely ball
08:47Through from Brown
08:48And suddenly Germany
08:49Are in
08:50Danger here
08:51What a heroic block
08:52That was Robis
08:53For Obispo
08:54Now it's Musiala
08:55Brown
08:58Curacao
09:00On the back foot
09:01Metcher
09:01Wirtz
09:03Metcher again
09:06Stunning goal
09:12Wonderfully taken
09:13By Felix
09:14Metcher
09:22Germany
09:23In business
09:24In their opening match
09:29The first goal
09:31In Houston's
09:32World Cup story
09:33Is scored
09:34By one of the
09:35The oldest names
09:36In the book
09:37Germany
09:41Felix Metcher
09:42Plays at Dortmund
09:43Only his ninth cap
09:45Here tonight
09:46For Germany
09:46But watch how
09:47They carve this space out
09:48And this is just
09:50It almost looks
09:50So casual
09:51They can't get
09:52Pressure on the ball
09:53This is curled
09:55Around the defender
09:56This is an incredible
09:57Look into the side
09:58Netting
09:58But this is German
10:00German technical
10:01Efficiency
10:02At its best
10:03And you know
10:04What it means
10:04To these guys
10:05To get off
10:05To a good start
10:06Because every team
10:08Is respected
10:08In a World Cup
10:10A goal
10:10Of class
10:14Some strike that
10:17On Felix
10:18Matchup
10:18Not a lot
10:19That Eloy
10:20Room
10:21Could do
10:21About it
10:25Exactly
10:26The kind of
10:26Start to the game
10:27The Germans
10:27Were looking for
10:28Musiala
10:29They're hungry
10:30For more
10:30Still Musiala
10:34There's Pavlovich
10:36Now
10:37Germany
10:38Getting in the groove
10:42Corner
10:43He's not given
10:44Goal kick
10:45Saw them get off
10:46The team bus ball
10:47And boy
10:48The looks on
10:49Everybody's
10:50Walking into the
10:51Stadium tonight
10:52It was so
10:53Businesslike
10:54And that's
10:55Sort of what
10:56The Germans
10:57Are known for
10:57Here
10:58But to get
10:58This early goal
10:59Is kind of
10:59A momentum
11:00Crusher
11:01For Curacao
11:07In his third
11:08World Cup
11:09As a coach
11:10Having been in charge
11:10Of the Netherlands
11:11And Korea Republic
11:13In 1994
11:14And 2006
11:16Respectively
11:17Got the Netherlands
11:18To the last eight
11:23Another thing
11:24You can say
11:25About him
11:25Is that
11:26He knows
11:27America
11:27Very well
11:28Played in the
11:28North American
11:29Soccer League
11:29For the Chicago
11:30Sting
11:31For him to come
11:31Back here
11:32After coaching
11:32The Netherlands
11:33In 94
11:34He made that
11:35Very clear
11:36He's come to
11:37Houston
11:38With Curacao
11:39Prior to this
11:40And the dream
11:41Was cut
11:42To this
11:42On the inside
11:43Of Floranas
11:50It's into
11:51Musiala
11:51Little flick
11:52Inside
11:55Bert's tiptoeing
11:56His way through
11:57Too much traffic
11:58In front
11:58And a way out
11:59Perhaps for Curacao
12:00At long last
12:01But Kimmich
12:02Says no
12:04Zane
12:09Curacao
12:09At the moment
12:10Struggling
12:11To keep pace
12:12Kimmich hasn't felt
12:13The need
12:14To get into
12:15Midfield yet
12:16He's been pretty
12:17Much holding down
12:17On the right side
12:18Of the field
12:19Here
12:19But we will see him
12:21But we will see him
12:21Float into
12:21Different positions
12:22And at some point
12:23It'll be like
12:24Are there two of them
12:25Will they come again
12:26Leroy Zane
12:31Wide it goes
12:33Gus wave after wave
12:35Of attacks here
12:36And trying to get
12:37Through this
12:37Is Curacao
12:38At this point
12:39Zane
12:40Has got to be
12:41A big piece
12:41Of this
12:42World Cup
12:42For germany
12:47That's just
12:48Pull wide
12:52That went off
13:22Of a pure
13:23Score one of the
13:23Goals against the
13:24U.S.
13:25In that
13:25Two to one
13:25Win
13:25In their last
13:26Friendly
13:27They felt
13:27That was
13:28A great match
13:29And a great
13:29Tune up
13:30For them
13:30Coming into
13:31This tonight
13:36All germany
13:37So far
13:40Look how high
13:41Schlotterbeck
13:42Is here
13:44Pavlovich
13:45Flips him
13:46Towards match
13:47A lot of
13:47Start to the
13:48Game
13:48He's had
13:50Another opportunity
13:51Comes his way
13:52But Eloy
13:53Room
13:53Well positioned
13:54He's playing
13:55Like a forward
13:55Right now
13:56I mean
13:56He's going to
13:57Be the guy
13:58That joins
13:58In the attack
13:59We've seen
13:59It already
14:00Twice
14:00And we've
14:01Seen his
14:02Goal
14:02Pavlovich
14:03Will be
14:03The one
14:04That does
14:04The more
14:04Balancing
14:05And controlling
14:06But this
14:06Is a night
14:07Where he's
14:07Going to
14:07Get forward
14:08A lot
14:08And has
14:09Already
14:13Failed
14:13By
14:14LeCardia
14:15He's left
14:16A little bit
14:16There
14:16On
14:17Josue
14:17Kimmich
14:22Once
14:22Played
14:22For
14:23Brighton
14:23And
14:24Hove
14:24Aldian
14:24In
14:25England
14:26He was
14:26The
14:26Club
14:27Record
14:27Signing
14:27At
14:28The
14:28Time
14:28Jürgen
14:28LeCardia
14:31That's
14:32Just a
14:32Glorious
14:33Look
14:33At
14:33This
14:33Finish
14:34Pinpoint
14:35Accuracy
14:36Wrapped
14:37His
14:37Foot
14:37Around
14:37It
14:41Busy
14:41Day
14:41Of
14:42World
14:42Cup
14:43Action
14:43Today
14:45This
14:45Game
14:46Opening
14:46Up
14:46Proceedings
14:47In
14:48Group
14:48E
14:48Cote
14:48D'Ivoire
14:49Taking
14:49On
14:49Ecuador
14:50Later
14:51In
14:51Philadelphia
14:52Netherlands
14:53Against
14:53Japan
14:54Sweden
14:55Against
14:55Tunisia
14:56To
14:57Come
14:57From
14:57Group
14:57F
14:58As
14:58Well
15:03Schlotte
15:04Beck
15:08To
15:09T
15:24Sane
15:25Crondville
15:26Quickly
15:26Out
15:27To
15:27Him
15:27At
15:29The
15:29Moment
15:29For
15:30Curacao
15:30It's
15:31Containment
15:33Exercise
15:35eyes behind the ball
15:39know that Germany have got the tools to unlock them Schlotterbeck
15:46Brown Beertz hugging that far touchline
15:52Beertz stepping on the inside of Florianus and letting fly and not far away
16:02well that man there Florian Verz has got to have a great World Cup for Germany if they're going far
16:07in this
16:09definitely a needed man here he's an all-around footballer
16:13and that just doesn't have enough bend on it but cutting in from the left on his right foot
16:20obviously is something that he's mastered it's a big piece of his game it's something you have to
16:24really look at but his chance creation has to be a big part of Germany in this
16:29World Cup and starts today
16:33Juninho Bakuna for Kurosawa as they make an entry into the German half of the field at
16:39long last
16:43it is Kimmich with ball in hand
16:50way by Obispo
16:57I'll get back to Manuel Neuer
17:01today becomes Germany's oldest player I'm sure he's thrilled with that particular statistic
17:09big story line coming out of retirement to play and you know everybody was saying of course he's
17:16coming to play he's not coming here to be on the bench back to that minute
17:19smuggled through to match up
17:20there's the pullback but uh
17:23Leandro Bakuna in the way of that one
17:26and the two Bakuna brothers combine and they're looking for a way out
17:30it's a decent looking ball well read by Schlotterbeck
17:34there's some fans going nuts Paul he put it through the legs of a German player nearly
17:39put one of his teammates through we have to talk about Leandro Bakuna 72 caps today is 73rd the captain
17:47he's been a big part of this whole project and this goal and this hope and possibility of getting
17:53Kurosawa to a World Cup
17:56it's been an amazing journey for them speaking to some Kurosawa and fans before the game they were
18:02so excited it was brilliant and telling me that it takes literally an hour to go from the east of
18:10the island to the west of the island and they're watching a game here and they're watching their next
18:17game as well before they head back but they have come to enjoy the party no matter what happens out
18:23on
18:23the field and so it should be
18:28here's Jonathan Tsar
18:32lots of that
18:40Kimmich
18:51that's a Pete John had mentioned that the party has not stopped in Curaçao since they qualified
18:57after getting that little draw against Jamaica and conca castle and you can see it with the fans you
19:03can get that island vibe here in the stadium
19:07a lot of people learn geography about Curaçao
19:11in one of the ABC islands off South America that all have Dutch influence
19:17and it's ironic that the Netherlands is here also indeed so and playing in this stadium in the not-too
19:23-distant
19:23future against Sweden
19:28going back to that game against Jamaica
19:32and Curaçao secured their spot at this finals
19:35their hearts skipped a beat in stoppage time because they conceded a penalty
19:40which was then overturned by VAR
19:48here's Bakuna
20:04here's Bakuna
20:06to Chong
20:07has
20:07is to get out of pressure and draw fouls
20:11he's going to want to do that closer to the German goal
20:13set pieces could be a big piece here today for Curaçao right now
20:17it's really
20:19stay in this game
20:21remain within touching distance
20:25is
20:25Shedley Basura who actually plays in the Turkish Super League with Konya Sport
20:32keep an eye on him a very aggressive
20:34centre-back number 23 in Curaçao and blue
20:41and when you mentioned some of the younger ones for Curaçao Basura is one of the younger ones
20:48stolen by Juninho Bakuna
20:50now a chance for Komen and Sia to drive forward and the blue shirts are joining him in there
20:55can he find the right cross? Tahit Chong behind it
20:59Lacadia
21:01Juninho Bakuna challenged by Muziala
21:03and there's Leandro Bakuna
21:06and it's wild and it's wide
21:09but it's a confidence-building attack for Curaçao
21:15yes Leandro Bakuna got underneath this kind of slices it you can tell his technique
21:21doesn't work for him there
21:22but let's talk about the build-up and let's talk about putting a circle around that and saying this is
21:27a good moment for them in this game
21:28and they're saying hey look we can play a bit of football against Germany as well
21:32well the founts around us absolutely loving it
21:35look at the smiles on the faces
21:37we're almost in the Curaçao section here this is wonderful
21:44matchup
21:47matchup
21:48Brown
21:51and then Florian Wirtz looking for options in the middle looking for Havertz
21:56skids away from him
22:00well Wirtz was the big signing for Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen was on that team that didn't lose Leverkusen a
22:08single Bundesliga match as you look at Manuel Neuer and Wirtz has had injury issues and things
22:16kind of a hit or miss
22:17real high moments with Liverpool with some some tough times as well this year
22:22but so much dependency on him
22:25for Germany
22:26he'll be working with a new coach of course when he heads back to the English Premier League
22:32and Tony Iriola
22:33taking the reins following the departure of Arnasla
22:40this is Obispo for Curaçao looking to spread it to the right and spread it
22:45he does
22:47common in Cia
22:48nudging behind towards
22:50Hanson
22:50there's Lucadia
22:52and there's the strike
22:53and there's the equaliser
22:55unbelievable
22:59Livano
22:59common in Cia
23:07history
23:08history
23:09in Houston
23:14a nation of scarcely more than a hundred thousand souls has just silenced millions
23:26Germany won, Curaçao won, Manuel Neuer, upon his return, is beaten.
23:38Open possibility floats, space opens up here.
23:43Onside, well-timed ball, but Licati is swinging a miss, just comes gratuitously.
23:52And this is a great hit from Cominencia, his third international goal.
23:58It skips up there, as you can see, over the two outstretched hands.
24:02Look at Abacac, and what a moment here.
24:06It is history for Curaçao, their first ever World Cup goal.
24:12One can only imagine what the scenes are like on that tiny little Caribbean island.
24:19And here they come again, Lucadia, the angle against him, Tar steps across.
24:26Wow. Wow.
24:32Lucadia went down, there's no penalty here.
24:35But this is just amazing emotion and momentum now flowing behind the blue wave.
24:42Goes down too easy there with Tar.
24:46There was a lady just then, to my right, a few rows away, dabbing her eye with her scarf.
24:54Time for a hydration break.
24:56Who's thirsty?
25:07Here it goes.
25:09One, two, three.
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25:40Yeah, baby, one more time.
25:48See ya.
25:48Thanks.
25:49Please be back in.
25:50Please be back in.
25:53Hombre, again.
25:57So?
26:01So?
26:01So bad now.
26:03Collect one of seven legendary cups with the FIFA World Cup news.
26:06See mcdonalds.ca for qualifying meals.
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26:28We're making every corner of Ontario safer to make all of Ontario safer.
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26:37Coaches without anything.
26:42We'll be right back in.
26:42Come on.
27:15And it just slashed above his hands into the back of the net like a blurry orb.
27:21What a moment.
27:23The youngest in the squad gets their first ever World Cup goal with their first shot on target.
27:32Now he's one of them considered a breakout talent for Curacao.
27:43And Manuel Neuer ready to restart us here, not the return to the international fold that he had envisaged.
27:57He hasn't kept a clean sheet in his previous seven World Cup appearances.
28:03He will not be getting one today.
28:07Jonathan Tarr for Germany.
28:10Kimmich.
28:12Zane.
28:14Watched closely by Fonville, who's a really good athlete, the number 24.
28:19Nice team shape the way right now Curacao is set up.
28:23Tough now passing lanes.
28:26That's a missed tackle there.
28:29Match up on to Muziala.
28:34And he's got company now from Leandro Bakuna.
28:37And Muziala doing his best to get away the assistant flagging.
28:41And it will be a free kick to Germany.
28:44Now he does well there.
28:45He's besieged by a couple of Curacao defenders, including Bakuna.
28:51There's a dangerous free kick here.
28:52Let's see how the Germans set this up.
28:55They've obviously got targets.
28:57Center backs are forward.
29:01Ta and Schlatterbeck are a danger.
29:08Here's where Kimmich standing over this.
29:13This is man-to-man marking here from Curacao for the most part.
29:20And see of elevation on that.
29:22Schlatterbeck.
29:24Excellent save from Roome.
29:28Well, they found the man they wanted to find.
29:31Eloy Roome comes up with a big save like he has so many times before for Curacao.
29:36This is a great lead, great timing.
29:39And Eloy Roome sees that all the way in the end.
29:42Just kind of helps it on over the crossbar.
30:06Nathaniel Brown to deliver.
30:10Punched out by Roome.
30:14Gathered by Wietz.
30:18Into Musiala, who tried the flick, didn't come off.
30:22He's got it now, though.
30:24He's away from Bakuna.
30:26What's sliding in was Armando Obispo.
30:32But great work from Musiala.
30:34Gets himself into the penalty area.
30:36He's got to be treated here differently.
30:37That's how he earned the corner at the end of that play.
30:40But to allude to, Joe has elusive nature.
30:44Something he's got to do today against a very compact defense.
30:50One deep again towards Schlotterbeck again.
30:52Who wins it again.
30:57Curacao managed to clear out for a throw.
31:00But that's twice now that Schlotterbeck has got on the end of that ball in.
31:26Now, Burtz for Kimmich.
31:36Orin White in the middle, hoping for the ball to come over.
31:40It's Sane.
31:41It's rolled into Pavlovich.
31:44And what a block.
31:46Colin Emcea putting himself in the line of fire.
31:50This time it was Pavlovich sneaking in out of midfield.
31:53And very good to pick him out.
31:57Ramazane was the right pass at the right time.
32:01Well, the pressure continues here.
32:06Kimmich will take a lot of the set pieces, the corners.
32:14Well, Schlotterbeck's got a head on it the last two times for Germany.
32:23And Komen and Sear is the one who's keeping an eye on Schlotterbeck here, who's making his move now.
32:29And he's peeled away to the far post again.
32:32But Komen and Sear flicks it away.
32:35Here's Fonville.
32:38All this reach, Tahir Chong, it will.
32:41Switches on.
32:44Locania was wide open on the other side of the field.
32:48Hang on a minute, Sean.
32:51Well, it's good play from Wirtz.
32:53Dropping into defensive mode there.
32:55Taken on the turn now by Pavlovich.
32:58Schlotterbeck.
33:05Now, Kurosawa have to get back into position.
33:08Zane driving infield.
33:11Komen and Sear in just the right spot.
33:13And that might just give Kurosawa the opportunity to build themselves.
33:17A little flick around the corner from Bakuna.
33:23Match up.
33:26Last sequence when Kurosawa won that ball.
33:28Would have been a nice moment to get a little bit more possession, a little confidence through passing.
33:33Maybe slow it down a little bit.
33:34Now you've lost the ball.
33:35You're already back here in a defensive posture.
33:40But Germany's got to look for the moments when the shape of Kurosawa is pulled out.
33:45Maybe they're a little bit overcommitted.
33:47And they have to act quickly.
33:50Masiala in the pocket.
33:55Hansen to Chong.
33:59Have to pull it through the legs.
34:01Well, Florian Wirtz.
34:03Straight ball through the middle.
34:05Zane onto it.
34:06Great block.
34:07They're not in the clear yet, though.
34:10Bonville looking to clear out for Tach.
34:17More heroic defending.
34:20The blue wave throwing every ounce of sweat equity at Germany today here in the first half.
34:28It's just a big space.
34:31That's just an eye-of-the-needle pass to pick out that run.
34:35But this last-ditch defending and key blocks has to be a part of the game here today for Kurosawa.
34:44And you've got to be willing to do it.
34:45And they are more than willing, I think, Paul.
34:51Bonville.
34:54Oh, that's nice.
34:56Mr. Pitti just got away from Bonville, but the idea was a nice one.
35:03Pavlovich of Bayern Munich, one of several from the Bavarian club in this squad.
35:11Bits of Liverpool.
35:12Bits of Liverpool.
35:15Nudged inside match-up.
35:19Zane.
35:22Pavlovich is on the scene.
35:25This is Kimmich.
35:28And that can be allowed to run behind.
35:31But Joshua Kimmich not happy with the referee who got on his way for a moment.
35:35Dick Abacat, the experience he has brought here, had to leave the coaching threshold real quick.
35:41This was the Eloy room save on Schlatterbeck.
35:44He has had some magical moments in goal for Curaçao.
35:49He really was the first player from the Netherlands to start recruiting the others.
35:54And then Dick Abacat came on the scene.
35:57So he is the elder statesman of this team.
35:59He's a spokesperson for him.
36:01He's a huge, huge leader.
36:04And every minute of all.
36:05And a recruiter.
36:06And a recruiter.
36:07Well, he played every minute in qualifying.
36:09All ten matches.
36:11Six clean sheets.
36:17Curaçao.
36:19With a free kick here in German territory.
36:27Bezoa.
36:30Obispo.
36:32Now Leandro Bakuna.
36:35A joint most capped player.
36:38I like what Bakuna has done here right now as a veteran.
36:41Just slows it down.
36:43Puts his foot on it.
36:45Let's get a little confidence through passing here.
36:47Let's take a collective sigh of relief.
36:50And belief.
36:51There we go.
36:57Obispo.
36:59Seeking out Hanson.
37:02Kimmich goes out to engage.
37:08Referee in the way again.
37:10Danino Bakuna.
37:11Sidestuffing matchup.
37:13Not only one thing on his mind.
37:15But rather ambitious to have a go from there.
37:22Yeah, but I like it.
37:23Because it does show a level of confidence.
37:26Three goals in World Cup qualifying for Janino Bakuna.
37:30But again, that is a little bit of what Curaçao is.
37:35They do like to try things that are a bit unique.
37:37Dick Apocat came in and said, listen, we're not changing things culturally.
37:41We are going to add some discipline and organization in certain areas.
37:45And it's been a beautiful marriage.
37:4762% possession so far for the Germans.
38:06Pavlovich.
38:08He will usually look for a forward pass.
38:12Muziala.
38:14Brown offering out on the left.
38:16Vietz let it go.
38:17Pavlovich.
38:19Kimmich.
38:21Pavlovich again.
38:23Now it's matchup.
38:24And now it's Kai Havelets.
38:28Reflected away for the corner.
38:30Well, it's interesting.
38:33Matcha has now dropped a little bit deeper.
38:35Pavlovich is now joining in a little bit more.
38:37So they've kind of flip-flopped the roles here.
39:03And swinger here off the left foot of Brown.
39:08He's all the way across the field to take the corner.
39:11Corey can take it, Nathaniel Brown, the referee.
39:17It's a word with Muziala and Floranis.
39:36Brown delivering.
39:37And Schleck's in.
39:39Well, they have been warned.
39:42And they haven't heeded that warning.
39:45Because Nico Schlotterbeck puts Germany back in front.
40:03Four stars on the shirt.
40:05Two goals on the board now.
40:08Gareth South fully aware of Schlotterbeck before this game.
40:12You know that.
40:13Two quarters, he got his head on him.
40:15And this time, boy, that's a glancing header.
40:17He's on the move.
40:17That's the key to this.
40:19Is being on the move and meeting this beautiful delivery.
40:22He is completely unmarked.
40:24That's bread and butter for Nico Schlotterbeck.
40:27That's a big, bold goal to grab a little bit of the momentum back.
40:30And it comes off that beautiful thing called the corner kick.
40:36Nico Schlotterbeck's first goal for his country.
40:40On his 28th appearance.
40:45How about that?
40:46It comes in a World Cup.
40:48Not bad timing.
40:58Well, Curacao have recovered once before.
41:00Can they do it again?
41:17Here is the man who got them leveled for a time.
41:20Come on and see it.
41:23That's a downfield by Rune.
41:25There's Schlotterbeck.
41:34Well, prior to this game, Germany had won 56 World Cup matches when scoring first.
41:42The omens in that regard look positive.
41:48Zane's header infield for Havertz.
41:52And also to that, they have come in on a nine-game winning streak,
41:56including that two-to-one friendly win over the U.S.
42:00a few days ago.
42:02Yeah, qualifying didn't start well for them, beaten by Slovakia.
42:05But after that, they never looked back, the Germans.
42:08They have now qualified for every World Cup since winning it for the first time in 1954.
42:16Pavlovich to Vyac.
42:19Necha.
42:23Oh, it nicely worked again.
42:25Obispo stepping in that time.
42:27Now it's...
42:28Janinho Bakuna.
42:31Who's hassled by Mecha.
42:41Oh, Zane takes a tumble.
42:43He's not going to get anything there.
42:46I do like the steel and the grit, though, that Mecha brings to that German midfield.
42:51No question about it.
42:52He's been getting into good positions in and around the box.
42:55Here's another look at Schlatterbeck's header.
42:57And again, the whole key to this is him being on the move.
43:00Static defenders.
43:01But the other key is completely unmarked.
43:03Somebody missed an assignment there.
43:04This was a simple header for him in the context of the big picture.
43:10But they had gone to him twice before, so this time they got some movement out of him.
43:17That's the centre-back stream, right?
43:19You come to games to break tackles up, marking a man out of the game.
43:22But then to add a goal to it just makes the day even better to this point.
43:26And the delivery was great as well.
43:28He's used a pace on that, hasn't he, to help?
43:31Pace was in the delivery.
43:33Just got to make good contact.
43:36Dorian Vietz, Mazziala, he's found a way through.
43:42And Rune will drop on it before Nathaniel Brown can get that.
43:50Well, Eloy Rune once had a game here in Houston where he made 15 saves against Honduras in the World
43:55Cup
43:55and called me in an interview that, you know, this has been a great city for me.
43:59Lots of good things have happened in Houston for both myself and Curaçao.
44:13Hangstone by Jannino Bakuna.
44:20Rominencia.
44:25Bonville.
44:28Rominencia again.
44:30Running at Kimmich.
44:33Jannino Bakuna.
44:35Snapped up by Mazziala.
44:36The Germans win it back.
44:38Here's Vietz.
44:39Brown sets off on a run on the outside.
44:42There he goes.
44:44Chased down by Florianus.
44:49Bucket comes to Pavlovich.
45:00Matchup.
45:02Pavlovich.
45:04Kimmich.
45:14Vietz.
45:16Looking to make inroads, but Florana stands his ground, but concedes the corner.
45:22Well, you take people on like that, you're going to get corners.
45:25Germany's got a number of these players that can do this.
45:27They've scored a goal off a corner, and the more corners they get, the more opportunities you have to get
45:33Schroeder back in your big center backs forward.
45:34Here he is again.
45:36And he's just maybe the ultimate target right now.
45:40He's got his head on three of these, and one of them has gone in.
45:45This time he's starting in and around the penalty area.
45:53The captain, Joshua Kimmich, to deliver this.
45:57Aiming for Schlotterbeck, who knots it down, and Curacao really needs to try and get a grip on him.
46:03They thought he was going to the near post.
46:05This time he circles and kind of makes a little semi-circle to the back post.
46:10So he's got different movements.
46:12The Germans are fully aware of it.
46:14And to your point, Paul, yeah, I mean, four times on corners he's put a head on it.
46:20You've got to go up with him, you've got to get an arm in, you've got to get an arm
46:23across him.
46:24You've got to try and put him off because it looks a little bit too easy right now, defensively from
46:28Curacao.
46:36Brown sweeps it over.
46:39Rune gets knuckles on it.
46:48Muziala, playing at his fourth major tournament for Germany.
46:52Driving on the outside.
46:54There's the pullback.
46:57And now Brown.
46:58And now Zane.
47:00And there's Pavlovich.
47:02Everybody wanting a go in German white.
47:09And Hansen trying to alleviate the pressure as we head into four out of minutes at the end of this
47:15first half.
47:16Yeah, kind of smiling.
47:17He said, everybody's having a go here.
47:19I mean, there was four players who had a shot at it.
47:23Pavlovich earlier had begged for it, didn't get it.
47:25This time he did get it.
47:27And again, Curacao's just getting bodies in front of these shots.
47:32Antonio Rudiger looking on.
47:35Well, we know Antonio Rudiger is a very emotional player.
47:38He's playing it out on the sideline right now.
47:40It's a wonderful option to have off the bench.
47:45Collected by Zane.
47:51Kimmich.
47:53Obispo is there for Curacao.
48:03Being hemmed in here, though.
48:05So Nino Bakuna managing to feed it down the line for Saeve Chong.
48:10Good battle with Tarr.
48:13Who felt the ball had gone out.
48:15They better get back defensively because Chong is on.
48:18Cominence here.
48:24And that's comfortable for Neuer.
48:31And that's comfortable for Neuer.
48:45If Germany can be a little quicker in transition when Curacao has players committed for it, like in that last
48:52sequence, I think they've got to try to get to go a little bit instead of putting their foot on
48:57it and recirculating it.
49:00I think the opportunity is there for them to do that.
49:03They recognized it, but they've been wanting to recirculate the ball as opposed to maybe getting the goal and taking
49:10a little bit more risk at times.
49:13Brown flashes one across, matches onto it, really good feet, takes a tumble, the referee says penalty.
49:20Right at the end of the half, Germany now with a chance to really tighten the screw.
49:45Well, here's Mecha.
49:47It looks like he's caught.
49:49I think it's Basur who comes in.
49:56Yeah, it's a right foot that clips him.
49:58Might be slightly embellished a bit, but there was contact.
50:03I think the penalty call was a good one.
50:09First look, it almost looked like he may have embellished it in a big way, but after getting the replay,
50:14it's pretty obvious there was contact.
50:17B.A.R., of course, would have had a close inspection of that.
50:23And the ball has been handed here to Kai Havertz.
50:29What you're doing here is you're trying to get one of your strikers unlocked in this tournament from the penalty
50:35spot.
50:50How can Eloy Roon become a hero for Curacao?
51:00big moment this for Germany on the cusp of half-time and the opportunity to take a two-goal
51:07cushion to the break this is right in front of the largest proportion of Curious Owens this
51:12behind Eloy Rooms goal it's Havertz and he rolls it in he's on the board at this FIFA World Cup
51:23and Germany will go to the break 3-1 up
51:42little collective sigh of relief here for Germany but I think very much so they wanted to get Havertz
51:50to the penalty spot because goal scorers are kind of strange creatures they need confidence little
51:56stutter step room goes left and you described it perfectly Paul by saying rolls it in he just
52:03passed it in and it proves to you that not all penalties have to be hit hard but there was
52:07a
52:08little bit of a stutter that moved Eloy Rooms and that's a big goal for Germany stroke a half-time
52:14timely type of goal very important
52:24well Curacao may be trailing but they are the ones leaving the field to a standing ovation from their
52:32followers
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