WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao remains uncertain whether striker Jürgen Locadia will be available for the national team's historic FIFA World Cup opener against Germany, as the Curaçao Football Federation (FFK) continues discussions with FIFA regarding a red card he received in a recent friendly match.
National team coach Dick Advocaat confirmed on Thursday that no final decision has yet been made by world football's governing body.
Locadia was shown a straight red card during Curaçao's friendly against Scotland on Saturday. According to Advocaat, it remains unclear how FIFA will assess the incident and whether it will result in a suspension.
“The federation is working on it together with FIFA. We hope to get clarity soon. They are handling it, but we cannot make the decision ourselves,” Advocaat said during a press conference at the Corendon Resort.
The veteran Dutch coach expressed hope that any punishment would be limited.
“With referees these days, you never know how things are written up. They can make it very serious. We don't know how FIFA will deal with it. We have to wait and see, but it would be a great shame to lose a player like him,” Advocaat said.
The 78-year-old coach pointed to the example of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, who received a red card last year but ultimately avoided a suspension that would have prevented him from representing his national team.
Final Preparations Continue
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Locadia, Curaçao is continuing its preparations for its first-ever World Cup appearance.
The Blue Wave will play a farewell match against Aruba in Willemstad on Saturday before departing for the United States.
“It’s time for us to win again. We’re ready,” Advocaat said.
The coach believes the red card against Scotland played a decisive role in Curaçao's defeat.
“If it had remained eleven against eleven, we probably wouldn't have lost. Playing with ten men hurt us,” he said.
Advocaat also stressed that his squad is physically prepared for the tournament.
“That has been tested and everything went well, including with players who did not play. We are ready.”
Underdogs With Ambition
Curaçao will begin its World Cup campaign against Germany before facing Ecuador and Ivory Coast in the group stage.
While acknowledging that his team enters the tournament as the underdog, Advocaat insisted that Curaçao should not be underestimated.
“By qualifying, we already achieved what many thought was impossible. Everything we accomplish from here is a bonus. We can make things difficult for anyone. Don’t write us off. If everyone has a good day, we can surprise an opponent and maybe score a goal,” he said.
According to the coach, football's biggest nations are not guaranteed victory simply because they have stronger squads.
“Those teams are obviously better than us, but that doesn’t mean they automatically win. We just have to maintain our level for the full ninety minutes.”
Chong: 'That Is Real Pressure'
International Tahith Chong also spoke ahead of the tournament and sought to put expectations into perspective despite the growing World Cup excitement on the island.
Although Curaçao has been swept up in what many are calling "Blue Wave fever," Chong said he does not feel additional pressure.
“A single mother with five children who doesn’t know where the next money is coming from—that’s pressure,” Chong said.
Advocaat, meanwhile, spoke warmly about the support the team has received from the people of Curaçao.
“It feels like coming home here. I love the positivity of the people. Many of them have difficult personal situations and often have to struggle to make ends meet, yet they are incredibly proud of us. We can see how much this means to them.”
The coach expects the full magnitude of Curaçao's World Cup participation to become even more apparent once the squad leaves the island next week.
“Next week we will really start to feel it. That’s when it will truly come alive,” he said.
As for his starting lineup against Aruba, Advocaat remained tight-lipped.
“For now, that remains a surprise.”