FIFA 2014: France Defeat Nigeria 2-0, enters Quarterfinal

Mangaloretoday/ NDTV

Brasilia, June 30: Paul Pogba scored with a late header to finally break Nigeria’s stubborn resistance and Joseph Yobo added an own-goal as France won 2-0 to reach the World Cup quarterfinals on Monday.

Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama had just made a superb save to tip over Karim Benzema’s header, but he flapped at the ball from the ensuing corner and Pogba pounced in the 79th minute to nod in his first goal of the tournament.

 

At the final whistle, France’s relieved players danced in front of their fans as dreams of a repeat run to the final - just like in 2006 - moved a step closer.

France started slowly and finished strongly in the second round match.

African champion Nigeria had a goal ruled out for offside in the 19th minute after Emmanuel Emenike poked home Ahmed Musa’s cross from the left, but wasted a lot of second-half possession.

After Griezmann came on, Benzema finally came alive in the 70th, opening up the defense after a clever one-two with the France substitute. After Enyeama blocked Benzema’s initial shot, his follow-up effort was hacked clear by Victor Moses.

Nigeria chose a very audacious lineup with four attacking players and found a lot of space behind France’s fullbacks, with right back Efe Ambrose causing problems with his overlaps.

But Nigeria continued to push forward, and Lloris did well to block a shot from Peter Odemwingie, who was Nigeria’s most dangerous player making runs from deep.

Center half Laurent Kocielny made a vital interception to block Musa’s dangerous cross from the right with a little more than 20 minutes left.

Then, it was all France as Griezmann boosted the attacks with his mobility and technique, and he almost made it 2-0 with an effort in the 85th that Enyeama tipped over brilliantly. Instead, it fell to Yobo to inadvertently add France’s second goal.


Germany Beat Algeria To Set Up Quarterfinal Clash vs France

Porto Alegre: Substitute Andre Schurrle and Mesut Ozil scored in extra time Monday to lead Germany over an aggressive Algeria 2-1 and into the World Cup quarterfinals.

Thomas Mueller provided a cross from the left flank that was slightly behind Schurrle. The Germany forward dragged his left leg and played a backheel into the far corner in the 92nd minute, leaving goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi with no chance.

Ozil added the second in the 120th, and substitute Abdelmoumene Djabou pulled one back in injury time for Algeria.

 

Three-time champion Germany, which has now advanced past the second round at nine consecutive World Cups, will next face 1998 winner France on Friday at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

With the temperature a chilly 14 degrees Celsius (57 degrees Fahrenheit) and a light rain falling at times, the pace was high at the Estadio Beira-Rio but the goals didn’t come until the end.

Ozil thought he had put the result out of reach when he pounded in a rebound after a shot from Schuerrle was cleared off the line by defender Esseid Belkalem, but Djabou volleyed in a minute later to make the last seconds count.

Perhaps inspired by the "Disgrace of Gijon" at the 1982 World Cup, when Germany and Austria supposedly conspired to oust Algeria in the group stage, the northern African nation outmatched Germany’s intensity for long stretches in an entertaining match.

Algeria was playing in the second round of the World Cup for the first time and dominated early on. A goal from Islam Slimani was waved off for offside in the 17th, one of many opportunities for the Algeria striker.

At the start of the second half, Germany put Schuerrle on for Mario Goetze in an attacking midfield and came out better organized.

In the 55th, Germany captain Philipp Lahm unleashed a hard shot that an outstretched Rais did well to push wide with his fingertips.

Still, Algeria continued to produce dangerous counterattacks. In the 72nd, Neuer had to come out of his area to head away the danger with Slimani chasing.

In the 88th, Germany’s inability to find the target turned theatrical for a moment when Mueller appeared to fall during a free kick.