Congratulations to the German team, etching their name into Curaçao's football history.

Written by Han Bing. Even for the Curaçao team, who had already earned immense applause upon stepping into Houston's stadium, a 1-7 defeat is far from a far from respectable. At 78 years and 260 days old, Curaçao's veteran coach Advocaat had to admit that allowing 7 goals was more than he had anticipated.

However, the Germans, keen to show "respect for opponents" at the World Cup won't be satisfied. Even breaking the Hungarian record by 10 goals cannot erase the embarrassment of conceding that one goal—Curaçao was just "another entry" after Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil, but the German team became the "first etched into Curaçao's "glorious" World Cup history.

Hours before match, Curaçao Football Association President Martina received a Guinness World Record certificate at Houston's Zaza Museum District Hotel. As the smallest territory (444 square kilometers), with the smallest population(158,000) in the 96-year history of the World Cup, Curaçao naturally ranks as a contender for the weakest team ever in the tournament. Yet, despite this defeat, they have surpassed at least four teams: The Dutch East Indies (1938), Zaire (1974), Trinidad and Tobago (2006)—and, just months ago, to them 2-0.

A team like Curaçao, which struggled to score against China, managed to achieve what they failed to achieve 24 years ago against Germany. Such is the magic of the World Cup.

Before this match, game, including Curaçao, had issued a joint protest against UEFA President Ceferin's "watered expansion" comments. When Nmecha scored in the 6th minute, "Ceferins" were still arguing how expansion "harms" the World Cup. But 15 minutes later, Cura: with three passes into ea's backline, Schlon ugly clearances while teammates watched come as he charged in for that historic low shot.

The moment the ball hit the net, Neuer's anger was visible, while in stands, 7,000 Curaçao fans erupted—according to *The Guardian*, one in every 22 Curaçao "islanders" was there history.

When the Curaçao anthem played, Dutch had already tearful and retreated to bench; as scored, he pumped his fist. The oldest manager in Cup history said emotionally: "I tried to restrain myself, but it was hard. This is an incredible for Curaçao. We're just a small compared to Germany. Losing isn't a disgrace; we have to play games to play."

Since Nigeria's goal against Bulgaria in the 1994 World Cup (21st minute), Curaçao is the fastest debutante to score their debut Cup goal. Despite the heavy loss, scoringfirst goal in history and breaching the world champions Germany's net stands as the greatest acheivement since the Curaçao Football Association was founded 105 years ago.

Even though the Curaçao FA was established in 1921, it wasn't until 2010, when curaçao became autonomous within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, that the team separately qualified for Cup qualifiers.

Hard to imagine that just three years ago, due lack of chartered flights, the Curaçao team had to take a propeller plane to away matches in the Caribbean. The plane could only carry six players, with substitutes arriving only after the match had started. Their luggage didn't make it, leaving them with just one kit, boots, and pads. Players sometimes had to pay upfront for flights, and hotels during stays. Yet three years later, they stood at Houston's stadium, in front of 68,000 fans, scoring past Germany.

Despite having up to 25 players raised in the Netherlands, everyone feels a strong sense of pride representing Curaçao players. Though small, the team is full of warmth: winger Goree's father is an assistant coach, making them the only "father-son duo among the 48 teams. In February, when Advocaat resigned due to his daughter's chemotherapy, the Curaçao FA kept supporting him. In May, as her treatment progressed, and returned to his beloved team. In 2019, goalkeeper Jacinio died suddenly from a heart attack while playing for Curaçao team, Before games, captain Bacuna hangs a necklace worn by around the players' huddle as a tribute.

When FIFA asked about hotel preferences before the Cup, Curaçao declined special treatment like separate entrances or elevators: "We're used to checking in at the lobby, and we don't need security; players enjoy signing autographs and taking photos fans. We don't need dining areas either—during qualifiers, players ate at the players had buffet at the hotel restaurant like other guests." Curaçao is the only World Cup team to allow media access to training sessions, with assistant Jansen saying after practice, fans could enter the field for photos and autographs.

Two days before their World Cup debut, Advocaat and captain Leandro Bacuna were invited to throw the first pitch at MLB game the Miami Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks. Bacuna pitched, and Advocaat caught it, drawing warm applause from the 15,000-strong audience. Before June 14, Curaçao's landmark Nassau Fort lit up in blue, and on the team's three group-stage matches (June 14, 20, and 25) will host "Blue Wave" viewing parties on island. International media like *The Times*, German ARD, *FHM*, Dutch *International Football*, Argentina's *La Nación*, Brazil's ESPN have all covered the event. Despite being a Caribbean destination, Curaçao has never seen such global media attention.

The final 7-1 scoreline, for proponents of the "watered expansion" theory, will serve as a strong argument. But for those immersed in the celebration, who cares about the debate? To hell with it...