From Hoffenheim exile to Curaçao return: Joshua Brenet faces Germany

Curaçao are the smallest nation to reach a World Cup, with a population of just 156,000, and are coached by 78-year-old Dick Advocaat, the tournament's oldest manager. Most of the squad are Netherlands-born; only Tahith Chong was born on the island. Six players in the 26-man group have played in Germany, including Gervane Kastaneer, Riechedly Bazoer, Roshon van Eijma, Jürgen Locadia and Joshua Brenet.

Brenet moved from PSV to Hoffenheim in 2018 for €3.5 million, a signing pushed by Julian Nagelsmann. After sitting on the bench early on he skipped a video session before Hoffenheim's first Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk and was dropped from the squad.

Nagelsmann later forgave him, but appearances remained sporadic; successors Alfred Schreuder and Sebastian Hoeneß rarely used him and Hoffenheim eventually sent him to the reserves before he left on a free transfer to Twente in 2022 amid repeated disciplinary issues.

Curaçao

joshua brenet, hoffenheim, twente, psv, julian nagelsmann, dick advocaat, curaçao, world cup, champions league, disciplinary issues