A 78-Year-Old Coach and a First-Time World Cup Team Think They Have Germany’s Number

Curaçao is making its World Cup debut this week, and the Blue Sharks are staring down a Group F opener against Germany — a squad that has historically stumbled out of the gate at major tournaments. For head coach Dick Advocaat, that pattern isn’t just trivia. It’s a lifeline.

At 78 years old, Advocaat has been around the block enough times to know that tournaments are often won in the margins. Speaking to Bild, the former Borussia Mönchengladbach boss made it clear that his team isn’t flying to the United States just to sightsee. “We have a chance,” he said. “The team has big ambitions and can achieve a lot because of that.”

Why Germany Is the Perfect First Test

Advocaat admitted that drawing Germany for the opening match — a team ranked No. 15 in the world — could work in Curaçao’s favor. “Starting directly against Germany is fantastic for us,” he explained. “That way we immediately know where we stand. Our goal is to reach the next round.”

It’s a bold take for a team ranked 82nd in the FIFA standings. But history offers Curaçao a flicker of hope. Germany entered both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups with opening-match losses and never recovered, bowing out in the group stage each time. Those early exits are well known to the Curaçao locker room. The Blue Sharks see vulnerability where others see a powerhouse.

The Advocaat Factor

Advocaat has managed teams across Europe and Asia, from the Netherlands national team to club stints in Russia, Belgium, and South Korea. He’s seen every kind of upset and collapse. He also knows that Curaçao’s players — many of whom feature in second-tier European leagues or the Caribbean domestic setup — will have to play a near-perfect match to pull off a shock result.

But perfect isn’t required. A draw would be a statement. A win would be seismic. And Advocaat, with decades of frontline experience, believes the opening whistle is where a tournament really starts. “Anything is possible,” he said.

According to reports from German media, the DFB camp is taking Curaçao seriously — publicly, at least. Germany’s coaching staff has warned against complacency, pointing to the team’s pace on the counter and physicality in the midfield.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Eastern on Saturday. For Curaçao, the World Cup dream begins with a giant — one that has a recent habit of waking up on the wrong side of history.