FIFA World Cup 2014 produced yet another display of enthralling football as France and Germany advanced to the quarter-finals as opponents Nigeria and Algeria were left red-faced.
FIFA World Cup 2014 produced yet another display of enthralling football as France and Germany advanced to the quarter-finals as opponents Nigeria and Algeria were left red-faced! But surely it was no walkover for the European giants as their opponents gave a tough account of themselves on the field. Here is the review of the two games played on Monday:
France vs. Nigeria
Winner – France
1998 World Cup winners France ended Nigeria’s hopes of a first World Cup quarter-final appearance when they scored two late goals to beat the African side 2-0 in a highly intensed second-round match on Monday. Midfielder Paul Pogba put France ahead in the 79th minute, heading in at the far post after Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama. The win was sealed when Joseph Yobo turned a low cross into his own goal in stoppage time and France will play Germany or Algeria in the last eight. But the Nigerians had made a bright start to the game and thought they had gone ahead when striker Emmanuel Emenike turned in Ahmed Musa’s low cross at the near post but the effort was ruled offside.
Germany vs. Algeria
Winner – Germany
FIFA World Cup is a bag full of surprises as Germany received one from Algeria who pushed the European giants all the way before Andre Schurrle and Mesut Ozil eventually secured a 2-1 extra-time victory to send the Germans into a mouthwatering World Cup quarter-final meeting with France. The North-African outsiders played with force and self-belief to regularly expose a static German defence. Algerian player Islam Slimani found the net with an early diving header but only to be ruled out for offside. Thus, Germany extended their remarkable record of reaching at least the quarter-finals in every World Cup they have entered since 1938 and gave them their first win in three attempts against Algeria, who famously beat them in a 1982 World Cup group game.
This sets up an enticing clash between France and Germany in the last 8. As the teams head to the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, one could expect a dazzling display of football from either side!
