For a few beautiful minutes in Houston, the unthinkable was happening. Livano Comenencia had just rifled a shot past Manuel Neuer, and an entire Caribbean nation was in delirium. Curacao, making their World Cup debut against a four-time champion, had equalised.
The goal came from some slack defending by Nico Schlotterbeck, but Comenencia took his chance spectacularly. The 7,000 Curacao fans who had made the trip from the island erupted in bedlam. Germany, who had taken the lead after just five minutes through Felix Nmecha's curling finish from Florian Wirtz's lay-off, were shell-shocked.
“Curacao scored their first World Cup goal but Germany won 7-1 in Houston.”
Julian Nagelsmann, during the subsequent hydration break, probably felt like downing something much stronger than water. But normal service resumed before half-time. Schlotterbeck restored Germany's lead, and Kai Havertz extended it from the penalty spot after Riechedly Bazoer tripped Nmecha. Jamal Musiala made it four, and the damage limitation exercise began for Dick Advocaat's side. At 78, Advocaat is the oldest manager in World Cup history, but even his experience could not stop the onslaught.
Germany's quality and class proved too much. Nathaniel Brown and substitute Deniz Undav helped themselves to goals, before Havertz completed the rout with his second of the night, making the final score 7-1. The game had threatened to become the biggest shock in World Cup history, but in the end the four-time winners romped clear.
Still, this match will not be remembered for what everyone expected. It will live long in the memory for what shouldn't have happened: an equaliser that sent Curacao fans into delirium and a footballing powerhouse into complete shock.