WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao (AP) — Before the tournament even begins, Curaçao has already crafted a story like none other in World Cup history. A tiny island country of about 156,000 residents in the Caribbean is now the smallest nation — both in population and land mass — to make it to soccer's biggest stage.
The Smallest Nation to Qualify
And if that wasn't enough, it's doing so under a coach in Dick Advocaat who, at 78, is about to become the oldest coach the tournament has ever seen.
"We have made history," Curaçao defender Sherel Floranus said. "We are writing our own history, for this island."
They rolled through qualifying, going 4-0-0 against Haiti, Saint Lucia, Aruba and Barbados in their opening round, then going 3-0-3 against Jamaica, Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago to grab their spot.
A David vs. Goliath Story
Just how small is Curaçao? Its first World Cup stop — a June 14 match against Germany in Houston — is to a city with 15 times as many people as the island. The stadium in Houston could hold about one-half of Curaçao's entire population.
With odds of +250000 at some sportsbooks, Curaçao is the longest of long shots in the field.
"We know there is a big chance that we don't win the World Cup, but that we made it there... for Curaçao, a very, very, very good moment," said Remko Bicentini, a former pro player and Curaçao's former national team head coach. "We are proud of that."
Historical Context
Curaçao was part of the Netherlands Antilles until October 2010, when it became a more autonomous "constituent country" of the Netherlands. The Dutch monarchy still reigns, the citizens remain Dutch nationals and the Netherlands government oversees defense and foreign affairs.
This week, Curaçao's World Cup preparations are happening in the Netherlands — a nine-hour direct flight away, but a place where the team was greeted with "welcome home" signage.
"I always saw other countries play the World Cup," said Michael Stokkel, a policeman. "I was a fan of Brazil, but now I will be a fan of my own country. It's an incredible feeling."
The sense is clearly that the results at the tournament won't mean much. Winning a match would be magical. Tying one would be cause for celebration. Just being there, for those from Curaçao, is a victory in itself.