France, June 1 -- Curacao, with a population of just over 158,000 and a land area of 444km², qualified for the World Cup when they drew 0-0 with Jamaica last November in Kingston.

The Blue Wave - as Curacao are nicknamed - will play their first match at the tournament against Germany, a country of 84 million people and one of the competition's most established sides.

Germany appeared at two of the three World Cups held before the second world war. Following their ban from the 1950 competition in Brazil, German squads have been ever-present.

Curacao, situated some 65km north of Venezuela, played their first international in August 2011 against Dominican Republic. For 50 years before that, Curacaoans featured internationally as part...