World Cup first-timers Curacao are aiming for a major upset when they face four-time champions Germany in their opening Group E match on Sunday, with head coach Dick Advocaat insisting his side is ready to challenge one of football’s giants.

The Caribbean team, largely made up of players of Curacao heritage born in the Netherlands, arrives at the tournament determined to prove it belongs on football’s biggest stage.

Veteran coach Advocaat, 78, will make history on Sunday as the oldest manager ever to appear at a World Cup. He is also set to become the first coach to lead three different national teams at the tournament, having previously guided the Netherlands and South Korea.

Despite being grouped with Germany, Ecuador and Côte d’Ivoire, Advocaat said his team has no intention of being intimidated.

“We are a small team compared to Germany, but we will make life difficult for them and be a tough team to play,” he told reporters on Saturday.

He added that smaller sides can sometimes produce surprise results against stronger opponents.

“It sometimes happens that small teams, amateur teams, beat much bigger sides. In the Netherlands, this happens regularly,” he said.

Advocaat said Curacao would try to exploit space left by Germany’s attacking style.

“Germany will be the dominant team and we have to respond to that. We are going to use the space that Germany will create when they attack and benefit from it,” he said.

The coach also praised the strong unity within the squad, calling it the best team spirit he has experienced in his long career.

“The team spirit in this team is something I've never seen before. As a team we will give everything to win for the island, but we're not the favorite,” he said.

“When you are participating with the Netherlands or a bigger team, you are one of the favorites. Now it is just amazing to be a part of this.”

He said Curacao are focused on showing their quality and making the most of their historic opportunity.

“We would like to show them what we can do and what we're worth,” he added.

Advocaat said all players are fit and available, stressing that the team aims to compete rather than simply take part.

“We have nothing to lose. The expectation is not that high outside of us as a squad, because we think we can surprise people,” he said.

“I think we will have to steal some points, but in a legitimate way. We want to show them that we have a good plan.”

The team’s relaxed and cheerful atmosphere has also drawn attention during the tournament build-up, with videos of players singing and dancing on the team bus going viral on social media.

Captain Leandro Bacuna said enjoying the moment is part of Curacao’s identity.

“We are a team that we love to have a little bit of a party as well. We love to have fun,” he said.

Like many teammates, Bacuna was born in the Netherlands but represents Curacao through family roots.

“People sometimes say I'm not really from Curacao. But these are people, my parents, who had been looking for opportunities and these opportunities are not always present on Curacao,” he said.

“But we are Curacaoans and we love Curacao!”