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28 March 2024

Brazil World Cup 2014 Quarter-final: Germany march into the semifinals

Published
By Football Correspondent and Agencies

Germany broke French hearts for the third time in the World Cup when they triumphed 1-0 at the Maracana on Friday to become the first country to reach the semi-finals in four successive tournaments.

But, unlike the dramas of their memorable semi-final victories over France in Spain in 1982 and Mexico four years later, this success, secured by Mats Hummels' 13th minute header, lacked real excitement and was based more on solid defending and team work.

The goal came when Hummels, back in the side after illness, powered his effort in as he muscled French defender Raphael Varane out of the way with the ball flying into the net off the underside of French keeper Hugo Lloris's crossbar.

It proved to be the only goal of a match that never came to life as a spectacle, with both teams making mistakes and failing to take any of the rare chances that came their way.

France, who started the tournament so brightly with eight goals in two matches against Honduras and Switzerland, struggled to find much creativity in midfield and when they did produce a chance they were thwarted by Germany keeper Manuel Neuer.

However despite France's overall lack of punch in attack he did have to make three important saves - two in the first half from Mathieu Valbuena and Blaise Matuidi - and one in stoppage time when a reflex stop prevented Karim Benzema scoring with a 94th minute shot that would have taken the match into extra time.

The Germans though looked strong at the back with Hummels again a reassuring presence after missing the last 16 victory against Algeria and captain Philipp Lahm back in his usual right-back position after a change of tactics from coach Joachim Loew.

But like France they failed to impose themselves in midfield where both sides continually gave the ball away.

And while the German players and Loew described the match as a great victory, it was not a great spectacle for the 74,000 fans sweltering in the blazing hot sunshine.

Loew might have been watching a different match though as he told reporters: "It was an incredibly exciting match. But you can't expect anything other than that at the World Cup. Both teams were equal.

"The players are really wiped out now. The sun in the stadium, it was incredibly hot, it was an intensive match back and forth."

He said moving Lahm back into his usual position of right back was nothing revolutionary either.

"The team wasn’t surprised. The team knows I’ve got a variety of different lineup plans. I always said when I have the feeling that I need to set a new stimulus, I’ll do it and the players know that," said the coach.

France coach Didier Deschamps lost a proud personal record with the defeat, his first in the World Cup as either a player or coach.

MORE EXPERIENCE

Deschamps, who captained the French World Cup winning team in 1998, said: "We had our chances but they had more experience than we did. They had us under control and they controlled that 1-0 lead well.

"It's unfortunate, but our team isn’t used to big meetings like this. We had chances to equalise, but Neuer stopped us with his saves. Germany played at a very high level.

"There wasn't a lot of difference between us but they advanced."

Germany will take part in their 13th semi-final, a record, in Belo Horizonte next Tuesday when Miroslav Klose will be hoping to set a record of his own as the World Cup's all-time leading scorer.

He currently shares the record of 15 goals with former Brazilian striker Ronaldo, and although he played for 69 minutes against France, did not have a clearcut chance to score.

The game did open up in the last 15 minutes when Andre Schuerrle, who replaced Klose, had a chance to double Germany's advantage but was thwarted by Lloris before Benzema's late desperate chance ended in another Neuer save.

"I hope our ride isn't over yet and I hope we'll be back here," goalscorer Hummels said, referring to the July 13 final, also at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium

Though perennially competitive, the Germans have not won soccer's ultimate crown since 1990 despite having a bigger pool talent since the unification of West and East.

They will now meet the winners of Brazil v Colombia in the first semi-final in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday.

At the Maracana on Friday, the 25-year-old Hummels brushed off a challenge from France's Raphael Varane, appearing to push him lightly, to meet the ball perfectly before wheeling away in delight after giving Germany a dream early lead.

'Les Bleus' looked uninspired but did have their moments, not least a stinging last-gasp shot by striker Karim Benzema that goalkeeper Manuel Neuer stopped one-handed.

"That was just an automatic reaction," said the modest Neuer.

In truth, Germany, whose team showed no ill effects of a flu virus menacing their camp in recent days, never looked in great danger of losing and substitute Andre Schuerrle wasted two chances to secure a more flattering scoreline.

Though losing to their old nemesis was painful, France have at least restored some pride after the embarrassment of in-fighting and a first round exit in 2010.

"We had our chances. But they had more experience than we did. They had us under control and they controlled that one goal lead," said France coach Didier Deschamps. "The difference wasn't that big... but they advanced."

An early Mats Hummels header proved enough for Germany to beat France 1-0 in a tense, error-strewn and largely uninspiring World Cup quarter-final at the Maracana on Friday.

The defender scored the only goal of a match neither team ever took control of when he headed in a free kick from Toni Kroos after 13 minutes.

In a game of few clear chances, Germany keeper Manuel Neuer denied France a shot at extra time when he blocked Karim Benzema's effort.

Germany, the first country to qualify for four successive semi-finals, will meet either hosts Brazil or Colombia in the semi-final next week.

Joachim Loew's side will have to play much better than they did against France to reach their first final since 2002.

Germany went ahead when they won a free kick on the left after Paul Pogba fouled Kroos who took the free kick himself and swung a perfectly flighted ball towards Hummels.

The centre back launched himself at the ball and held off defender Raphael Varane in the same movement and powerfully flicked the ball in with it grazing the underside of Hugo Lloris's bar for his second goal of the tournament.

France took time to respond but came close to an equaliser in the 34th minute when Mathieu Valbuena shot from close range but was denied by a superb save from Neuer who turned the ball away with his left hand.

Either because of the sun beating down from a cloudless sky or because of the tension of the occasion, neither team played well, although France were particularly poor.

Both made error after error and the game rarely set the pulses racing until the last 15 minutes as France desperately searched for the equaliser that never came.

Substitute Andre Schuerrle should have doubled Germany's lead but his low strike was blocked by Lloris.

FULL TIME

Germany 1 (Hummels 13") France 0

Germany became the first country in World Cup history to reach the semi-finals for the fourth successive time when they beat France by a Mats Hummels goal at the Maracana Stadium on Friday.

Joachim Loew's side got the match-winner in the 13th minute when Hummels headed home a free-kick from Toni Kroos.

The Germans will take on either hosts Brazil or Colombia in the last four stage.

90+4" Benzema's shot is saved by Neuer.

90+3" Lloris almost plays with fire.

90+1" Kroos is replaced by Christoph Kramer.

90" Four minutes of time added.

87" Schuerrle is deprived again as he shoots straight into Varane. Nice work by Mueller there who made room and put Schuerrle in the clear.

85" Tense moments for the French fans with five minutes of play left.

84" Valbuena makes way for Olivier Giroud as France need a breakthorugh here. 

83" Mario Goetze comes in for Mesut Ozil.

82" Lloris keeps France alive after making a save from Schuerrle although the shot lacked punch. But Mueller is the culprit for missing it first right in front of goal after some good work by Ozil.

80" France have 10 minutes to send the match into extra time and deprive Germany from making their fourth successive semi-finals in World Cups.

80" YELLOW! Schweinsteiger is given a yellow.

78" France desperate for an equaliser have two shots at the German goal. First Benzema's shot is blocked by a lunging Hummels and then Matuidi's shot from close is punched over by Neuer.

75" Ozil and Mueller work in tandem but France get lucky as the pass is not accurate in front of goal.

73" Another change from France as Remy Cabella comes in for Yohan Cabaye.

71" France too make a change as Sakho is replaced by Koscielny.

69" Mueller's angled shot beats Lloris but misses the target.

67" Germany make their first change and Klose is replaced by Schuerrle. The 36-year-old will have to wait another match in order to become the highest goalscorer in World Cups.

62" Schweinsteiger and Valbuena clash while going for a header and the Frenchman is down and needs treatment.

59" Varane sees his header collected easily by Neuer.

58" Matuidi and Valbuena once again almost cut through the German defence but Schweinsteiger manages to stick his foot out at right time to send it for corner.

56" Deschamps must be thinking of a change here as France despite making inroads are not able to trouble Neuer. 

53" YELLOW! Khedira is cautioned for a tackle from behind on Griezman.

51" Klose finds Ozil and the left winger tries to pass it back to Klose but  Varane clears it.

49" Valbuena and Matuidi work a nice one-two and the German defence is caught wrong-footed but Matuidi runs the ball a bit too far over the touchline.

48" Lloris steps out in time to deny Klose from getting to the ball first.

46" France have come out with guns blazing, Valbuena is pulled down by Schweinsteiger in the box and is lucky to escape although the ref was very much near the action.

Mats Hummels nodded Germany into a 1-0 lead against France at half-time in the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup at the Maracana on Friday.

The goal came off a free-kick taken by Toni Kroos and Hummels beat the French defence by leaping over them and heading past Hugo Lloris all ends up.

HALF-TIME

Germany 1 (Hummels 13") France 0

A towering header from defender Mats Hummels gave Germany a 1-0 halftime lead against France in their World Cup quarter-final on Friday.

The center back, who also scored in Germany's opening group game win over Portugal, met a Toni Kroos free kick with a header that rocketed into the roof of the net off the underside of the bar after 12 minutes.

Germany keeper Manuel Neuer made a fine one-handed save to deny Mathieu Valbuena after 34 minutes as France pressed for an equalizer.

45" One minute has been added.

44" Pogba's long ball to Benzema and he does well to control the ball and side-foot two defenders but his shot is directed straight at Neuer.

42" France appeal for a handball in the box after Benzema's header hits Hummels on the hand but the ref is not convinced. Benzema was looking for a penalty.

40" Debuchy concedes another free-kick and Kross once again dinks it into the box but this time the French defence is alert.

37" Khedira receives treatment after a clearance from Varane hits him on the face.

33" Neuer pulls off a great save from close to deprive Mathieu Valbuena. Off the rebound Benzema's shot hits a defender.

30" Another set piece and Ozil takes the free-kick from just outside the box and again the French defence is exposed as Hoewedes heads it only to see it go over.

28" Griezmann sends a long floater into the box for Benzema but Lahm gets to it first and heads it back into the safe hands of Neuer.

25" The French fans are already looking so morose.

24" Nice through ball from Khedira but there is a tangle between Mueller, Evra and Lloris as the ball goes out.

23" That was close. Miroslav Klose is brought down in the box by Debuchy, or at least it looked like it was deliberate, but the ref thinks otherwise as the Germans appeal for a penalty.

20" The match is evenly poised although the Germans hold the upper hand with Hummels goal.

17" Cabaye gets away with a hard tackle on Klose. Argentinian referee Nestor Pitana being a little lenient.

Germany 1 (Hummels 13") France 0

13" GOAL! Mats Hummels nods home from a Toni Kroos free-kick. The ball hits the underneath of the crossbar giving Lloris no chance whatsoever and it also exposed the French defence. 

10" After the first 10 minutes both teams look positive. Germany have held possession but France look like scoring.

6" France make their first foray into the German area and almost score when Giiezmann back passes to Benzema whose first-time volley goes a little wide.

5" The first five minutes belong to Germany with Mueller darting in on a couple of occasions. No threat though to the French goal.

3" Germany earn two free throws in the France area of which Varane clears one to safety before Mueller can do any damage. 

2" France goalkeeper Lloris has to make a collection from a high ball as Germany are on the offensive. 

Germany are in white and France in blue as the match gets underway.

Yes, the moment has arrived as the teams troop out in front of a loud cheer from the Maracana crowd.

The players have returned to the tunnel after a light training session under scorching heat. It's going to be a test of 'survival of the fittest'. Neither team would want the match to go into extra-time. And if it does go into penalties then Germany have a better record.

We are half an hour away from kick-off at the Maracana and both the teams have come out for a light warm up.

Miroslav Klose starts ahead of Mario Goetze as Germany boss Joachim Loew makes three changes from the side which beat Algeria after extra-time in the last-16.

Striker Klose can break the all-time goalscoring record if he finds the net today.

He is currently on 15 goals, level with Brazil great Ronaldo. Defender Mats Hummels starts in place of Per Mertesacker, while midfielder Sami Khedira comes in for right-back Shkodran Mustafi. Skipper Philipp Lahm should revert to full-back.

Two changes for France as coach Didier Deschamps plots the downfall of the Germans. Real Sociedad attacking midfielder Antoine Griezmann replaces Olivier Giroud for France, while defender Mamadou Sakho starts alongside Raphael Varane at the back.

TEAMS

France: 1-Hugo Lloris; 2-Mathieu Debuchy, 4-Raphael Varane, 5-Mamadou Sakho, 3-Patrice Evra; 6-Yohan Cabaye; 8-Mathieu Valbuena, 14-Blaise Matuidi, 19-Paul Pogba; 10-Karim Benzema, 11-Antoine Griezmann 

Substitutes: 7-Remy Cabella, 9-Olivier Giroud, 12-Rio Mavuba, 13-Eliaquim Mangala, 15-Bacary Sagna, 16-Stephane Ruffier, 17-Lucas Digne, 18-Moussa Sissoko, 20-Loic Remy, 21-Laurent Koscielny, 22-Morgan Schneiderlin, 23-Mickael Landreau 

Germany: 1-Manuel Neuer; 20-Jerome Boateng, 5-Mats Hummels, 4-Benedikt Hoewedes; 6-Sami Khedira, 7-Bastian Schweinsteiger, 16-Philipp Lahm, 18-Toni Kroos, 8-Mesut Ozil; 13-Thomas Mueller, 11-Miroslav Klose 

Substitutes: 2-Kevin Grosskreutz, 3-Matthias Ginter, 9-Andre Schuerrle, 10-Lukas Podolski, 12-Ron-Robert Zieler, 14-Julian Draxler, 15-Erik Durm, 17-Per Mertesacker, 19-Mario Goetze, 21-Shkodran Mustafi, 22-Roman Weidenfeller, 23-Chrisoph Kramer

Referee: Nestor Pitana (Argentina)  

PREVIEW

Under-fire Germany face rejuvenated France in Friday's World Cup quarter-final at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana stadium in a mouth-watering clash of two European powerhouses.

This represents an acid test for Germany coach Joachim Loew with his side heavily criticised for below-par performances at Brazil 2014.

A place in Tuesday's semifinal against either Brazil or Colombia in Belo Horizonte is at stake.

"Didier Deschamps has turned France around since 2010 and we're looking forward to another classic," said Loew who took charge after the 2006 World Cup.

Their 4-0 hammering of Portugal in their opening group match confirmed their status amongst the world's elite, but a series of unimpressive performances have seen Loew's Germans receive heavy criticism.

Having been held to a 2-2 draw by Ghana, then grinding out a 1-0 win over the USA in their final group match, poor finishing saw Germany labour to a 2-1 extra-time win over Algeria in Monday's last 16 clash.

Former captains Michael Ballack, Oliver Kahn and Lothar Matthaeus have all questioned Loew's selections with playmaker Mesut Ozil struggling and centre-backs Jerome Boateng and Benedikt Hoewedes being played out of position as wing-backs.

"That was the worst performance for years," Ballack reflected after the Algeria match, while Kahn was equally unimpressed: "This line-up isn't working any more".

Loew has a contract with the German FA (DFB) until June 2016, but a quarter-final exit will put him under pressure to resign despite steering his side to the semifinals of the last three major tournaments.

In contrast, France have risen steadily under their coach Deschamps and are unrecognisable from their chaotic 2010 campaign in South Africa.

With Karim Benzema in top form, France are dreaming of their first World Cup title since their 1998 triumph on home soil, but their focus is solely on Germany.

"Everyone can dream, including me, but I'm a pragmatist and a realist, Friday is the only thing that counts," said Deschamps.

While the Germans are struggling to find the right combinations for their fast-paced attacking game, Deschamps says his harmonious squad is a "pleasure" to work with and the French will "give it everything we've got".

Honours are even in terms of recent meetings with France claiming a 2-1 win in Bremen in February 2012, while Germany claimed revenge by the exact same scoreline in Paris 12 months later.

The French lead the series with 11 wins to Germany's eight in 25 previous meetings.

Both sides played down the relevance of their legendary 1982 World Cup semifinal, which Germany won 5-4 on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 extra-time draw.

The Seville game attained notoriety when Germany keeper Harald Schumacher shoulder-charged Patrick Battiston, leaving the Frenchman unconscious on the ground.

With the media quick to ask whether France can claim some World Cup revenge, both Loew and Deschamps pointed to the fact most of their respective players were not born at the time.

Germany will have centre-back Mats Hummels back after missing the Algeria win with flu, while Lukas Podolski is fit again after a thigh strain.

There is a question mark over midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger who came off with cramp, but gave the thumbs down when pointing at his knee, which blighted him with tendinitis before the World Cup.

There is a question mark over France defender Raphael Varane, who spent the night in hospital with dehydration after Monday's 2-0 win over Nigeria in the last 16.

Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho is fit again after knee problems, while it remains to be seen who Deschamps names as striker between Olivier Giroud or Antoine Griezmann.