Havertz: The first World Cup match is usually the hardest, 7-1 win gives us confidence

After Germany defeated Curaçao 7-1 in their opening FIFA World Cup match, Havertz was interviewed in the mixed zone.

Congratulations on the win, on a strong start, and on being named man of the match. Sometimes you seem less prominent on the field, but you always deliver in crucial moments. Do you feel that way yourself? What are your thoughts on this match?

I don't think I "hide." However, it's true that the first half was quite difficult, and the opponent played well. Even so, I think we can be satisfied. Winning 7-1 in the first game, the opening match of the FIFA World Cup is usually the hardest, so we are very happy and have built a lot of confidence through this game.

After Undav came on as a substitute, the team seemed re-energized, and he performed exceptionally well today. Is playing alongside him an option for you?

Yes, I think our team has many different combinations, and many players can either come on as substitutes or start directly. Undav played very well today, and if I'm not mistaken, this should be his first FIFA World Cup match. He made an immediate impact, creating goals, and that's what he's here to do. I think he's shown that ability all season. So it's clear that if you have a player like that, you'll definitely try to utilize his strengths.

Brown also played his first FIFA World Cup today. We saw him perform very well, especially when participating in attacks upfront. How important is such a performance to you, especially for your game?

Very important. I think everyone can see how this young man trains and commits every day. In his first FIFA World Cup match, he played like that and scored a goal, which is really excellent for his age. Not just because he can show his abilities, but also because he is a very good person. He is humble, very respectful, and gives his all in training every day. I think the German national team needs such players, so we are glad he is here.

Let me extend the question to another player. You just talked about Brown, now let's talk about Felix Nmecha. What are his characteristics? He is also a relatively new key player in the team. Can you talk about what he can bring to the team?

Honestly, I think he has all the qualities. He is a very versatile player, excellent in both offense and defense, with great technical skills, good physique, and strong body. If you have such a player behind you, you will definitely feel very secure.

Kai, you should have a day off tomorrow, and you deserve it. Has anyone from your family arrived? Will anyone come later? You celebrated your birthday remotely earlier, what are your plans for tomorrow?

For me, tomorrow will mainly be about recovery. My family hasn't arrived yet; they will come during the later stages of the tournament. So tomorrow will be about resting and recovering. I think many teammates' families have already arrived. For me personally, tomorrow will probably be about going to the physio for recovery and doing some routine post-match things.

After 12 years, Germany once again played a 7-1 match. What are your memories of the 2014 7-1 game? And how does it feel to now be part of a 7-1 victory yourself?

I actually already said some of that. I watched that game live when I was about 14 or 15. Obviously, the 2014 7-1 has become part of the history of the German national team. Now we are also starting this tournament with such a score, which of course feels very special and will give us a lot of confidence. Only Neuer in the team experienced the 2014 game, so I will ask him later how he feels now.

A 7-1 is certainly a dream start. However, the next opponent will be a completely different level. What areas do you think still need improvement?

We still need to review this match. I actually don't remember many details of the game right now. I think overall, we controlled the game. Of course, after the score became 1-1, for about 10 minutes, there was indeed a slight instability on the field. But seeing how we regained control afterwards, I think that also shows that we have grown a bit as a team.

There is always room for improvement, and it's hard to play a perfect game. But overall, this is a very good result and a good game, a great start to the FIFA World Cup. We should certainly gain more confidence and strength from it.

The first cooling break seemed to come at just the right time. Can you tell us what you talked about or what adjustments you made then?

I don't remember the specific details right now. I think it was mainly about some adjustments in off-the-ball defense, such as how to better restrict opponents and how to apply pressure more effectively. But overall, the cooling break isn't very long, maybe just a minute or two. Everyone also uses this time to rehydrate and make some minor adjustments. I think these adjustments quickly took effect.

I still want to ask about the cooling break. During the cooling break today, Mexican style music was played. Can you feel that on the field? Also, what do you think of the cooling break rule and the overall "Americanized" presentation or packaging of the game now?

Overall, I don't think this cooling break was really necessary today because the temperature in the stadium was relatively low. But some stadiums are indeed very hot, so players might need those one or two minutes to rehydrate. From that perspective, I think this arrangement is quite good.

As for the feeling on the field, I glanced at the big screen above and saw the band. Overall, I think it's pretty good. Fans come to the stadium, and of course, they also want some entertainment. If they can stay engaged during the cooling break, I think it's generally a good thing. So I have no objections to that.