HOUSTON (REUTERS)
Germany thrashed Curacao 7-1 in their World Cup opener on Sunday after Felix Nmecha scored the tournament's fastest goal so far and then drew a penalty in first-half stoppage time which Kai Havertz converted to extend the lead.
The four-times champions dominated from the start of the Group E match against the smallest nation to qualify for a World Cup and were rewarded when Nmecha curled a shot into the corner after a sublime one-two with Florian Wirtz in the sixth minute.
A determined Curacao side gave their fans something to cheer when Livano Comenencia's deflected shot beat goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to level, but Germany quickly took control again with a Nico Schlotterbeck header and the Havertz penalty.
Germany picked up where they left off after the break with Jamal Musiala holding off a defender to slot home. Nathaniel Brown then notched a goal on his World Cup debut before Deniz Undav and Havertz added late goals to complete an easy victory.