2026 World Cup: Underdog Curaçao faces two giants, Germany and Neuer

The underdog Curaçao, a newcomer to the World Cup, makes its grand debut on Sunday (5:00 PM GMT) in Houston against Germany, with its four stars on the jersey and a giant in goal, Manuel Neuer, returning to the national team at 40 years old.

It would be hard to find a more unbalanced match-up than this Texas fixture: on one side, a piece of the Dutch Antilles, 444 km² and around 160,000 inhabitants, swollen by its diaspora; on the other, a behemoth of the competition, boosted by the comeback of one of the best goalkeepers of his generation.

A semi-finalist in 2010, a world champion in 2014, and captain eliminated in the first round in 2018 and 2022, Neuer came out of international retirement to everyone's surprise to play in a fifth World Cup, his ninth major tournament including the Euro.

"I didn't expect it, but of course we are delighted that Manuel is back. There is virtually no doubt that he is the best goalkeeper of all time, or at least one of the best," German striker Deniz Undav praised him to reporters on Friday.

The Bayern Munich player is indeed one of those rare goalkeepers who has revolutionized their position. He did so in a "libero goalkeeper" role, a kind of third central defender who participates in his team's build-up play, agility on the ball.

- Lloris' record in sight -

"He still has his own style of goalkeeper. He's the only one who has that, in the way he moves, plays quickly, distributes with his feet, distributes everything," described his former national teammate, Toni Kroos, in the spring on the podcast "Einfach mal Luppen" which he hosts with his brother Felix.

The possibility of a return of Neuer, retired from the national team after Euro 2024 on home soil, did not carry much weight at the time.

But coach Julian Nagelsmann changed his mind and recalled the native of Gelsenkirchen (western Germany), "because +Manu+ has once again displayed a very consistent level of performance this season, and simply because he is Manuel Neuer".

"I think Lothar Matthäus (former German international, editor's note) is right when he says that, to have a good World Cup, we need Manuel at his best. I think he can bring that," added the 38-year-old coach on Saturday from Houston.

Neither Marc-André ter Stegen, often injured, nor Oliver Baumann managed to establish themselves in his absence. And now he's back, at 40 years old and more than 700 days after his last cap.

On Sunday, Bayern's last line of defense will write a piece of history: his 125th cap will also be his 20th in the World Cup, a record for a goalkeeper which he will share with Frenchman Hugo Lloris, and which he will improve in the following match against Ivory Coast on June 20.

- "That motivates you" -

However, the tall goalkeeper (1.93 m) will need to be rid of the physical problems that have plagued him in recent years and, more recently, at the end of his season. He hasn't played since May 16th and has been recovering from a painful left calf injury ever since.

Nagelsmann, however, was reassuring about the health of the German "Wall", one of his nicknames, and confirmed his starting position from the first match.

Against Curaçao, ranked 82nd in the FIFA rankings, Neuer is very likely to be called upon little by the opposing attackers, as the gap in level between the two teams appears abysmal.

But we must not underestimate the extreme motivation that will drive the small Caribbean nation led by the experienced Dick Advocaat.

"We want to show people that, however small we may be, we have a very big heart, and that with a very big heart and conviction, we can go really far," said captain Leandro Bacuna on Saturday.