The 40-year-old was restored as Germany's number one for the tournament despite recent questions over his international future, and he described the occasion as a major personal milestone.

"That was very special. It makes me incredibly proud to be playing for the national team again. My fifth World Cup. I'm very pleased to be part of the whole thing," Neuer said.

Germany made an early breakthrough when Felix Nmecha struck in the sixth minute to settle any nerves. However, Neuer was unable to keep a clean sheet on his return to the global stage after Curacao found a surprise equaliser midway through the first half.

The veteran goalkeeper explained that there was little he could do about the goal, pointing to a crucial deflection that wrong-footed him.

"I actually was going to save it, but the ball took a deflection and the distance was too close to react. It was just unfortunate," he said.

Despite that setback, Germany quickly regained control of the match and went on to dominate, scoring six more goals in a one-sided contest that underlined their attacking strength.

Neuer praised the overall team performance, highlighting the energy from both the starting XI and the substitutes as Germany maintained pressure throughout the game.

"I waited so long for this day and was determined to play. It felt very good to be on the pitch with the guys. It's always very important to have a good start in a major tournament," he said. "We played a good game and scored many goals. The players who came off the bench brought good energy.

"We never stopped looking for the next goal. Now we'll analyse and see what we can do better in the next games."

Germany now turn their attention to their second Group E fixture, where they will face Ivory Coast on 20 June in Toronto, as they look to build on their strong start to the tournament.

READ MORE: Germany hit seven past Curacao as Kai Havertz double headlines FIFA World Cup rout

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