Armando Obispo Covers Curaçao's World Cup Debut Against Germany
armando obispo sits over Curaçao’s first World Cup match against Germany on Sunday at 19:00. The debut puts the smallest country ever to reach the World Cup finals on the same stage as a four-time world champion.
Curaçao’s first World Cup
Curaçao is making its first appearance at the World Cup, and the scale is part of the story. The country has about 150,000 inhabitants, a figure that makes its place in the finals rare even before the whistle goes.
Dick Advocaat leads Curaçao into the match, with Leandro Bacuna and Juninho Bacuna both in the squad. Leandro is 34 and six years older than his brother, and he brings more than 100 Premier League matches to the tournament.
Germany’s returning Neuer
Germany opens its World Cup against the debutants with Manuel Neuer back in the national team after retiring from international duty after Euro 2024. Neuer is 40, the last remaining world champion from Germany’s 2014 team in the current squad, and the oldest German international ever.
Jearl Margaritha adds another layer for Curaçao after scoring seven goals for SK Beveren last season and helping the club win the Challenger Pro League title. Germany is leaning especially on Jamal Musiala, whose fitness remains a storyline after a broken fibula a year earlier.
Klopp’s television remark
The build-up also produced a public exchange on German television on Thursday. Jurgen Klopp said, "Gelukkig stelt Julian Nagelsmann de ploeg op," then added "nog," Thomas Müller answered, "Kloppooooo. Het is juni. Jij bent al in september.", and Nagelsmann replied, "Ik denk dat het voor mij niet gepast is om over dit onderwerp".
That noise sits behind a match that already carries a clear edge: a debutant with about 150,000 inhabitants against a team built around a returning 40-year-old goalkeeper and a young core. Curaçao’s 0-0 draw with Jamaica in November, sealed after a late penalty was overturned by VAR, was the route to this point; Sunday at 19:00 is the test that follows.
