Europe may have taken big blows in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil with the early exits of defending champions Spain and other European giants like Italy and Portugal, but the remaining teams are keeping it alive in the knockout stages. The Netherlands have already booked a place in the quarterfinals after beating Mexico and now Germany and France have bested their African opponents to create a showdown against each other in the top 8.
Nigeria and Algeria were the only two African representatives left and with their exit, the quarterfinals is now left to the Europeans and Americans. France and Nigeria's game could ahve gone either way with statistics showing that everything was fairly balanced from ball possession and number of attempts. Pogba's breakthrough goal put France just ahead and the own goal by Yobo just added insult to injury for the Nigerians.
France 2-0 Nigeria Full time
(Pogba 79', Yobo 90'+ OG)
June 30, 2014
Venue: Estadio Nacional Brasilia
Man of the Match: Paul Pogba (France)
Match Statistics:
FRANCE
NIGERIA
49%
Possession
51%
15
Attempts
8
9
On Target
6
1
Goals
0
12
Corners
9
4
Set Pieces
1
17
Free Kicks
15
12
Fouls
15
1
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
Germany may have looked to be lethargic in the first half of the game against Algeria but as soon as they got their second wind in extra time from that openng goal and perhaps a half time pep talk as well, they completely dominated the match. Algeria were very threatening in the first half and it looked like they were due a goal when they were denied an offside header that went into the net. They never recovered and only managed to pull one back from Germany in the closing minutes of extra time which was too little too late for them.
Germany 2-1 Algeria (Extra Time)
(Schurrle 92', Ozil 120'+) (Djabou 120'+)
June 30, 2014
Venue: Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre
Man of the Match: Rais Mbolhi (Algeria)
Match Statistics:
GERMANY
ALGERIA
63%
Possession
37%
29
Attempts
11
22
On Target
7
2
Goals
1
10
Corners
4
0
Set Pieces
2
24
Free Kicks
15
11
Fouls
20
1
Yellow Cards
1
0
Red Cards
0
Algeria's Sofiane Feghouli and Madjid Bougherra react after their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game against Germany at the Beira Rio stadium in Porto Alegre June 30, 2014. REUTERSGermany's Mesut Ozil (L) scores against Algeria during their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game at the Beira Rio stadium in Porto Alegre June 30, 2014. REUTERSAlgeria's Aissa Mandi (on the ground) and goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi react after Germany scored a goal during extra time in their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game at the Beira Rio stadium in Porto Alegre June 30, 2014. REUTERSAlgeria's Sofiane Feghouli is consoled by teammate Djamel Mesbah (back) after their loss to Germany at the end of their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game at the Beira Rio stadium in Porto Alegre June 30, 2014. REUTERSGermany's Mesut Ozil (L) is congratulated by teammate Per Mertesacker after scoring against Algeria in extra time during their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game at the Beira Rio stadium in Porto Alegre June 30, 2014. REUTERSGermany's coach Joachim Loew (L) shakes hands with player Bastian Schweinsteiger as he leaves the field after sustaining an injury during extra time in their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game against Algeria at the Beira Rio stadium in Porto Alegre June 30, 2014. REUTERSNigeria's Vincent Enyeama (R) checks on teammate Ogenyi Onazi as he lies on the pitch after a challenge against France during their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game at the Brasilia national stadium in Brasilia June 30, 2014. REUTERSNigeria's Victor Moses (R) clears a shot by France's Karim Benzema (not pictured) off the goal line, as Nigeria's goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama watches, during their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game at the Brasilia national stadium in Brasilia June 30, 2014. REUTERSFrance's Paul Pogba is surrounded by his teammates as they celebrate his goal against Nigeria during their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game at the Brasilia national stadium in Brasilia June 30, 2014. Pictured are Laurent Koscielny (L), Patrice Evra (C), Mathieu Debuchy and Karim Benzema (top). REUTERSFrance's Raphael Varane sits on the ground as he reacts to being hit in the face by the ball during their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game againt Nigeria at the Brasilia national stadium in Brasilia June 30, 2014. REUTERSNigerian soccer fans pose for pictures before watching the 2014 World Cup soccer match between France and Nigeria on a large screen at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, June 30, 2014. REUTERS
