Germany's opening win boosts confidence, says Nagelsmann

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann said his side's emphatic 7-1 victory over Curacao in its opening Group E match at the FIFA World Cup on Sunday would provide a significant confidence boost as the four-time world champion pursues another deep run in the tournament.

Germany made an impressive start to its campaign at Houston Stadium, overcoming an early setback after Curacao midfielder Livano Comenencia canceled out Felix Nmecha's opener.

Goals from Nico Schlotterbeck, Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown and Deniz Undav secured a comfortable victory for Germany.

The result marked Germany's first opening-match win at a World Cup since 2014, when it went on to lift the trophy in Brazil. Since then, the team has endured disappointing campaigns, exiting in the group stage in both 2018 and 2022.

Nagelsmann said the performance and scoreline would help strengthen the players' belief ahead of tougher tests later in the group stage.

"Confidence is very important in a tournament like this," he said. "The team already had belief, but victories like this can help it grow further."

Nagelsmann expressed satisfaction with both the result and the manner of the performance, praising his players' intensity and focus throughout the match.

"We scored seven goals and created many chances," he said. "Most importantly, we approached the game with the right attitude and maintained a high level of intensity."

The 38-year-old coach also noted that Germany handled the pressure of being the overwhelming favorite against World Cup debutant Curacao despite conceding an equalizer in the first half.

According to Nagelsmann, matches of this nature can sometimes present unique challenges because expectations are heavily weighted toward one side.

He said Germany remained calm after Curacao's goal and continued to execute its game plan.

Germany will next face Cote d'Ivoire in Toronto, while Curacao takes on Ecuador in Kansas City.

Nagelsmann said the upcoming matches would provide a clearer indication of his team's progress, adding that the opening victory offered an encouraging foundation for the remainder of the tournament.