"I was absolutely delighted..." Julian Nagelsmann Ecstatic After Germany's 7-1 World Cup Win

Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann hailed his side's impressive start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a commanding 7-1 victory over Curaçao, describing the result as an important step forward following the country's recent disappointments on football's biggest stage.

The four-time world champions arrived in North America after suffering consecutive group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022.

Any concerns over nerves or lingering scars from those tournaments were quickly eased in Houston as Germany produced one of the most convincing performances of the opening round.

Nagelsmann admitted the result carried extra significance given Germany's recent World Cup struggles and praised the players for responding so emphatically.

"I was absolutely delighted for the team," the Germany head coach said after the match as quoted by the Bundesliga website.

"I've just congratulated them as well. Given what happened at the last two tournaments in particular, this win is especially important."

Germany took control from the opening whistle but briefly faced a setback when Curaçao equalised against the run of play after Felix Nmecha's early opener.

The response, however, was immediate and ruthless, with the Germans eventually running away with the contest thanks to goals from Nmecha, Nico Schlotterbeck, Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown and substitute Deniz Undav.

Nagelsmann revealed that a tactical adjustment made during the first-half drinks break helped his side exploit Curaçao's midfield diamond more effectively.

"Before that, we made a quick adjustment to how we wanted to attack their diamond formation," he explained.

"The drinks break came at a good time because it allowed us to show the players."

The Germany coach also eased concerns surrounding Musiala, who was withdrawn during the second half after appearing to experience discomfort.

"There's nothing serious with Jamal Musiala," Nagelsmann said.

"After being out for such a long time, it's normal for him to feel the odd muscular issue now and again. I didn't take him off because of that."

One of the night's most memorable moments belonged to Nathaniel Brown, who marked his World Cup debut with his first senior international goal. The young defender said it was hard to describe the achievement.

"It's indescribable to score in your first World Cup match," Brown said.

"My family is here. It's incredible. The other players congratulated me and told me to keep going."

Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who became Germany's oldest-ever World Cup player after returning from international retirement, stressed the importance of making a strong start to the tournament.

"I think everyone hopes for a good start," Neuer said.

"In a tournament like this, getting off to a good start is especially important. The substitutes came on and brought great energy to the team. You could see the sense of enjoyment in our play."

Goalscorer Felix Nmecha echoed those sentiments after delivering one of the standout performances of the evening.

"Of course, I'm absolutely delighted," he said.

"It's only just sinking in now what has happened. It's a very special moment for me and for us as a team."

Kai Havertz, who scored twice in the victory, acknowledged that Germany still had areas to improve despite the emphatic scoreline.

"Overall, we were in control of the game," he said.

"Of course, after conceding, you could sense a bit of unease. But it's also a sign of character to work your way through moments like that. There's no such thing as a perfect game."

For Curaçao, it was a harsh introduction to World Cup football. Head coach Dick Advocaat was candid in his assessment after the final whistle.

"It wasn't good. If you lose 7-1, it wasn't good," the Dutchman said.

"But we know how strong the Germans are. Germany were simply too strong today."

The result sends Germany to the top of Group E ahead of their crucial second match against Ivory Coast, while Curaçao must quickly regroup before facing Ecuador in a fixture that could prove decisive for their hopes of progressing.