Curaçao

Profile

With a population of around 156,000, Curaçao are the smallest country by population ever to reach a World Cup — a staggering achievement that caused scenes of unbridled joy across the Dutch Caribbean island. Dick Advocaat's experienced coaching brought tactical structure to a squad made up largely of Dutch-born players of Curaçaoan descent, who combined domestic Caribbean football with European league experience. The qualifying campaign through CONCACAF was a stunning journey that saw them overcome much larger football nations to claim their historic spot. Leandro Bacuna, Juninho Bacuna and Tahith Chong give Curaçao technically accomplished players familiar with English and Dutch professional environments. Their group debut is against Germany — the nation most geographically and historically linked to Dutch football — which makes it a fairytale story within a fairytale story. Winning any game would be historic, and this joyful, resilient squad will give everything to make the whole footballing world fall in love with their island.

Curaçao fixtures

Players to watch

• Leandro Bacuna

  Midfielder · Willem II

  The elder of the Bacuna midfield duo, Leandro brings experience from Eredivisie and Championship football to Curaçao's engine room. A hard-working, technically solid midfielder whose pressing and distribution have been central to Curaçao's qualifying success, he is the organisational heart of their small but spirited World Cup squad.

• Juninho Bacuna

  Midfielder · Birmingham City

  A dynamic, energetic midfielder with Championship experience, Juninho Bacuna provides the driving force in Curaçao's pressing game. His ability to win the ball, run with it at pace and deliver late goals from midfield positions makes him one of the most effective players in a squad that punches well above its weight.

• Tahith Chong

  Forward · Sheffield United

  A former Manchester United academy product, Chong chose Curaçao over the Netherlands and has become their most recognisable attacker. His pace, dribbling and directness from wide positions give Curaçao a genuine threat on the counter-attack, and his Championship experience means he is comfortable under pressure in big matches.

Group E table