Germany's Kimmich stays grounded after emphatic opening victory over Curacao

Germany overwhelmed Curacao 7-1 on Sunday, seizing control of Group E. They face Ivory Coast on Saturday, who also have three points after beating Ecuador 1-0, and then finish their group fixtures against Ecuador next week.

"We anticipated winning, but the manner was extremely dominant. However, we recognise that achieving such a scoreline is not a given in this competition," Kimmich said in a press conference.

Although the four-time world champions cruised past the Caribbean debutants in their opening match, other results showed the tournament's unpredictability. European champions Spain were held to a goalless draw by underdogs Cape Verde, and Saudi Arabia also managed a draw against Uruguay.

Germany are eager to rebuild their global standing after early eliminations in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. They have now won ten consecutive matches, but Kimmich noted that the group stage would provide a clearer indication of their tournament prospects.

"Both Ivory Coast and Ecuador are physically robust and adept at handling the conditions," Kimmich commented.

"Our first match was against a side that is clearly not world class. The upcoming challenges will show our true level. We possess excellent attributes to threaten opponents, but we must improve our defensive solidity and cut down the goals we concede, even against weaker teams."

Although Germany aim to peak at the appropriate moment after over ten years without making a significant mark on the international stage, Kimmich cautioned that they must become more consistent.

Joachim Low, who managed Germany to their most recent World Cup triumph in 2014, remarked on a German sports programme that the current squad, despite considerable quality, still lacked the stability required to lift the trophy.

"Let us play the next two games, after which the pundits can more accurately assess our position. We have now won ten consecutive matches. I feel we are heading in the right direction," Kimmich concluded.