Curaçao's Advocaat sees opponents Germany among World Cup favourites
Article excerpt
Dick Advocaat, Curaçao's 78-year-old coach, embraced the challenge of facing Germany in his team's World Cup debut, calling it "fantastic" to open against one of the tournament favorites. The four-time champions loom as a formidable first opponent, yet Advocaat framed the matchup as an exciting opportunity rather than an intimidating one. The Dutch manager, speaking to dpa, positioned Germany among the tournament's elite contenders while suggesting Curaçao sees value in testing themselves immediately against established powerhouses.
Curaçao coach Dick Advocaat is excited to be facing Germany first up in their debut World Cup and believes the four-times winners are among the favourites.
"That it's Germany right at the beginning is fantastic," the 78-year-old Dutchman told dpa. "That way we immediately know where we stand. You have to play them anyway so you might as well play them right at the beginning."
Germany and the Dutch-speaking Caribbean island, the smallest country ever to reach a World Cup, will meet on Sunday in Houston. The other Group E opponents are Ivory Coast and Ecuador.
Advocaat, who worked as coach of Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga for half a year in the 2004-05 season, said he has great respect for the German team.
"Germany are of course clear favourites in the group. They are still a great football nation," he remarked.
That is why he also counts Julian Nagelsmann's side among the candidates for the World Cup title.
"Spain, France, Germany and the Netherlands are my favourites," Advocaat said.
The veteran coach can understand why Nagelsmann has recalled 40-year-old Manuel Neuer from international retirement.
"For a goalkeeper, age does not play such a big role. He has been through quite a lot, has had some injuries. But he is still a world-class goalkeeper, he proved that again recently in the Champions League against Real Madrid," Advocaat mused.
The much-travelled coach has bossed the Netherlands, UAE, South Korea, Belgium, Russia, Serbia and Iraq as well as a myriad of clubs.
He stepped away from the Curaçao job just before their World Cup qualification due to personal reasons but later returned.