Final, 2-1 Germany: The game is over. Germany advances after defeating a determined Algeria.
Algeria fought Germany to the bitter end, but the Germans prevailed in a contest that had it all — goals, bloopers, highlight-reel saves and unceasing tension and emotion.
The collective approach worked for the spirited Algerians, but Germany’s quality and depth gave it the edge in the hard-fought Round of 16 contest. Schurrle’s exquisite finish sparked Germany’s extra-time assault, and Ozil scored the game-winner when it looked like Algeria was through fighting.
But the Desert Warriors were not done. Djabou struck immediately after Ozil to produce a scoreline, which better reflects the balance of play. Algeria should be proud of its team. Its head coach, Vahid Halihodzic, is a notorious taskmaster, but the Bosnian was in tears after the final whistle. It’s likely that those are tears of pride mixed with tears of disappointment. Halihodzic won’t coach Algeria after the World Cup.
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Germany is moving on. It will play France in a 2014 World Cup quarterfinal on Friday.
That’s all for now and thanks for joining us. Let’s discuss this one on Twitter @NESNsoccer and Facebook. Be sure to keep an eye out for some news, fan reactions, analysis and opinion that is on the way on NESN.com.
120th minute +1, 2-1 Germany: Algeria responds with a goal of its own. The substitute Djabou halves Germany’s lead.
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119th minute, 2-0 Germany: There’s Germany’s second. Ozil is the goal scorer.
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118th minute, 1-0 Germany: Algeria has little, if anything, left to give, and Germany is looking to capitalize on its opponents’ exhaustion.
109th minute, 1-0 Germany: Schweinsteiger exits, as Germany looks to manage the end of the game.
Christoph Kramer replaces Schweinsteiger. Kramer is one of the hottest prospects in German soccer.
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107th minute, 1-0 Germany: Lahm is cautioned for this infraction.
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106th minute, 1-0 Germany: The second half of extra time is underway.
105th minute, 1-0 Germany: That’s the end of the first period of extra time.
Algeria must score in order to force a penalty-kick shootout. Otherwise, Germany will advance to the quarterfinal.
101st minute, 1-0 Germany: Mostefa drags a shot wide after an opportunity presented itself inside of Germany’s penalty area.
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100th minute, 1-0 Germany: Algeria makes its final substitution, bringing on striker Abdelmoumene Djabou for Soudani.
97th minute, 1-0 Germany: Algeria makes a substitution, replacing captain Halliche with Madjid Bouguerra.
92nd minute, 1-0 Germany: Â Schurrle puts Germany ahead with an otherworldly back-heeled goal.
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Muller crossed from the right side of Algeria’s penalty area into the goal-mouth. The ball was slightly behind Schurrle, but the Germany forward put the right spin on it with his back-heel flick and beat the previously impenetrable Mbhouli.
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91st minute, 0-0: The first half of extra time is underway.
End of 90 minutes, 0-0: We’re headed for extra time after Germany and Algeria fail to break the deadlock.
Algeria continued to use the approach it took in the first half during the second period. The Desert Warriors’ tactics didn’t stifle Germany as effectively in the second half, but Mboulhi is performing historically well in goal.
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There will be two, 15-minute halves in extra time. If there’s no winner, penalty kicks will decide which team advances to the quarterfinal.
90th minute, 0-0: There will be four minutes of added time in the second half.
89th minute, 0-0: Schweinsteigher has another header from close range, but it’s too close to Mboulhi, who makes another save.
88th minute, 0-0: Germany’s free-kick routine is simultaneously everything and nothing.
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86th minute, 0-0: Mboulhi, who waars his first name, Rais, on the back of his jersey is winning new fans with his standout performance against Germany.
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82nd minute, 0-0: Muller continues to search in vain for the game-winner. This time, the Germany forward shoots wide from inside Algeria’s penalty area.
80th minute, 0-0: Mbhouli makes another huge save. The Algeria goalkeeper turned away Muller’s header from point-blank range.
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79th minute, 0-0: Schweinsteiger heads wide from close range after Muller and Lahm combine on the right to create the scoring chance.
78th minute, 0-0: Yacine Brahimi comes on for Algeria. He replaces fellow winger Taider.
75th minute, 0-0: Slimani shoots from distance, but it goes right to Neuer, who makes a comfortable save.
71st minute, 0-0: Ghoulam releases Slimani with a diagonal pass from the left, which forces Neuer to race 20 yards off his line and head it clear.
70th minute, 0-0: Mustafi is down and out after being stretchered off.
Midfielder Sami Khedira replaces the Germany fullback. Lahm likely will move from defensive midfielder to his natural, right back position.
65th minute, 0-0: The second half has hit a lull.
Germany is hogging possession without creating clear scoring chances, while Algeria sits deep and launches increasingly fruitless counter-attacks.
55th minute, 0-0: Lahm starts a move and would have finished it with aplomb, but Mboulhi makes a fantastic fingertip save.
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48th minute, 0-0: Germany defender Mustafi rises and heads a cross, but it goes straight to Mboulhi.
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46th minute, 0-0: The second half is underway.
Germany made a substitution, replacing Gotze with Schurrle.
Halftime, 0-0: That’s the end of the first period. Neither team has scored, but there have been plenty of close calls.
So far, Algeria has defied those who expected a one-sided game in which Germany would blitz and Algeria would sit deep and defend for their lives.
The Desert Warriors are committed to winning the ball in their own half and launching quick counter-attacks down the flanks. Germany didn’t deal with this strategy well, and Algeria could have scored on more than one occasion.
Germany is attacking in numbers and creating scoring chances, but Algeria goalkeeper Mboulhi has made the saves when called upon, albeit unconvincingly.
Algeria must not make any defensive errors in its own half because Germany can and will punish teams that give it scoring chances.
44th minute, 0-0: Germany finally sustains possession inside Algeria’s third of the field, but it ends when Kroos shoots wide from 35 yards out.
42nd minute, 0-0: Halliche is cautioned for a foul on Schweinsteiger.
40th minute, 0-0: Mbolhi denies Kroos’ goal-bound shot with a diving save.
39th minute, 0-0: Mostefa hits a low drive toward Neuer’s goal, but it hits Boateng and goes out for a corner.
37th minute, 0-0: Mbolhi fails to control Ozil’s long-range shot, Muller arrives at the rebound first, but he can’t cotrol it.
35th minute, 0-0: Muller sends a diving header wide of the Algeria goal, as Germany’s attack shows signs of life.
30th minute, 0-0: We’ve reached the half-hour mark, and Algeria, not Germany, has been the better team so far.
If Algeria continues to execute its game plan (at its current level), and Germany doesn’t eliminate the chaotic confusion from its game, we might see one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
24th minute, 0-0: Ozil tries to beat Mbolhi with a chip, but the Algeria goalkeeper back-pedals and tips the shot over the crossbar.
21st minute, 0-0: Algeria has betrayed its assigned (by the public) role as cannon fodder for Germany.
The Desert Warriors are attacking with confidence and finding success by serving balls from the wide areas — particularly on the left.
Germany must respond by increasing the tempo and matching the passion of Algeria’s players.
18th minute, 0-0: Algeria puts Germany under more pressure, as Ghoulam marauds forward bit misses the target with a right-footed effort from inside the German penalty area.
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17th minute, 0-0: Algeria looks to have taken the lead after Slimani beat Neuer with a diving header, but the Algeria striker was ruled offside, and goal was disallowed.
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14th minute, 0-0: Schweinsteiger hits a driving shot on goal, but Algeria goalkeeper Mbolhi parries it into the air then catches it.
11th minute, 0-0: Germany is committing many players to the attack, which creates space into which Algeria launches counter-attacks.
Algeria striker Slimani has been the focal point. Slimani has raced behind Germany’s back line more than once, prompting Neuer to take action.
Ninth minute, 0-0: Neuer comes out and plays sweeper-keeper to deal with an Algeria counter-attack.
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Fifth minute, 0-0: The game has started slowly, as Germany and Algeria look to establish a rhythm to their respective passing games.
First minute, 0-0: Germany-Algeria is underway.
Kickoff: The national anthems have been sung, and the game is set to begin.
The winner will face France in the quarterfinal round.
3:45 p.m.: Here are the lineups:
Germany
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Algeria
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3:30 p.m. ET: The Round of 16 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup continues on Monday when Germany takes on Algeria at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Germany is one of the favorites to win the 2014 World Cup, and the “Nationalmannschaft” wants to build momentum with a victory in its first knockout-round game of the tournament.
Algeria is competing in the knockout phase of the World Cup for the first time.
Germany qualified for the Round of 16 by finishing first in Group G. Germany defeated Portugal and drew Ghana before topping the United States in its group-stage finale.
Algeria is one of the big surprises of the World Cup. The “Desert Warriors” advanced to the Round of 16 on the strength of a second-place finish in Group H. Algeria lost to Belgium in its opening game but recovered to defeat South Korea and draw against Russia in its next two.
Germany is expected to steamroll Algeria with an approach characterized by speed, balance and quality. Algeria’s defense is hard to break down, and it can score unexpectedly when going forward. The 2014 World Cup has been unpredictable, and anything can happen once the referee blows the whistle at kickoff.
The game kicks off at 4 p.m. Stay right here for all the action from the Estadio Beira-Rio.
