Florian Wirtz struggles to get in on act as Germany smashes Curacao at World Cup

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Germany defeated Curacao 7-1 in its World Cup opener on Sunday, but Livano Comenecia's stunning equalizer briefly threatened the biggest upset in World Cup historyFlorian Wirtz was quiet on Sunday(Image: Getty Images)Germany's World Cup campaign got off to a flying start in Houston on Sunday with a commanding victory over Curacao.Yet this match won't be recalled for what everyone anticipated. Though Wirtz picked up an assist for the opening goal, he was arguably the tamest German attacker on the field in Houston.Ultimately, Julian Nagelsmann's team pulled away convincingly, avoiding what would have constituted a significant embarrassment.

To put this fixture into perspective, Curacao was making its debut in a tournament Germany had claimed four times.Curacao could have accommodated half its entire population within the Houston Stadium. As it transpired, approximately 7,000 had journeyed from the Caribbean island to witness a historic moment for all those connected with Curacao.Wirtz provided an assist but failed to score for Germany(Image: Getty Images)Curacao has been riding the wave of its slogan, "The Blue Wave." Yet it was a white one that swept across the pitch instead.

Nmecha, Leroy Sane, and then Wirtz all came agonizingly close to doubling Germany's advantage, as Nagelsmann's side lined up to add to the scoresheet.Then the inconceivable occurred — Curacao equalized. But normal service was swiftly restored before the interval when Schlotterbeck re-established Germany's lead, and Kai Havertz extended it from the penalty spot, after Riechedly Bazoer had brought down Nmecha.Jamal Musiala made it four, and the contest had become entirely about damage limitation for Advocaat's rank outsiders.Yet Germany's quality and composure proved overwhelming, with Nathaniel Brown and substitute Deniz Undav both getting on the scoresheet, before Havertz rounded off the rout with his second of the afternoon.The smallest nation ever to grace a World Cup will forever cherish their moment in the spotlight, courtesy of Comenecia's stunning strike.The Germans, meanwhile, have endured back-to-back group stage exits in the previous two tournaments, heaping enormous pressure on Nagelsmann to rewrite the story of a soccer powerhouse.