Jonathan Tah: We Must Not Underestimate Curacao

Curacao should not be underestimated, warned German defender Jonathan Tah ahead of the opening Group E World Cup match between the two teams on Sunday.

Germany is eager to kick off the tournament with a convincing victory after their shocking group stage exits in both 2018 and 2022.

Curacao, led by Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, is making its World Cup debut and is the smallest nation ever to qualify for the tournament.

"Yesterday, we had a team discussion about Curacao, and they are a good team with players trained in the Netherlands," Tah stated at a press conference. "But we are the favorites, and I am confident we will win the match."

The Germans are also set to face Ivory Coast on June 20th and Ecuador in Group E.

"I see many quality players in the German squad, many players in their prime, and a few who are playing their last World Cup," said fellow German defender Nico Schlotterbeck. "We have a really good mix. Everyone is just looking forward to it."

The Germans will be playing in hot conditions in Houston, with temperatures expected around 30 degrees Celsius, but the players emphasized their sole focus on the first match. They also stated they felt no pressure heading into their opener.

"There's no pressure at all. We're going into this with confidence, and on Sunday, we want to show how good we are," Schlotterbeck commented.

"We shouldn't hide from anyone. We are a top, top, top team and we are once again showcasing German qualities on the field after a very long time. We have discipline, passion, and the ability to fight back, and if we display our German virtues, then we are in a good position," he added.