Final, 1-0 Germany: It’s over at the Maracana. Germany has defeated France and is moving on to the 2014 World Cup semifinals.
There was nothing flashy or overpowering about Germany’s victory over France. The Germans turned in an academic performance and simply did what they had to do in order to move on to the next round.
Germany controlled play for the first 45 minutes, but the second half belonged to France. “Les Bleus” were the aggressors throughout, and they created a host of scoring chances with their positive play. But Germany’s battle-hardened defenders, particularly Hummels, and superstar goalkeeper Neuer stopped France in its tracks.
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And so ends France’s 2014 World Cup dream. “Les Bleus” and head coach Didier Deschamps deserve credit for banishing the disastrous 2010 World Cup and chaotic Euro 2012 to the trash-bin of history. France gained popularity for its balanced and exciting playing style at the 2014 World Cup, but it went as far as the level of its talent could reasonably expect to take it.
Meanwhile, Germany is moving on to the last four of the 2014 World Cup. Although it hasn’t won the World Cup since 1990, “Die Mannschaft” has an unrivaled track record of putting itself in position to do so.
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Germany will play either Brazil or Colombia in the World Cup semifinal on Tuesday.
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.
90th minute +2, Â 1-0 Germany: France misses with what is probably its last, best chance to score.
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Benzema shot from a tight angle, but Neuer batted it clear with an outstretched hand.
90th minute +2, Â 1-0 Germany: Kroos exits, and Christoph Kramer takes his place in Germany’s third and final substitution.
90th minute, 1-0 Germany: There will be four minutes of added time in the second half.
87th minute, 1-0 Germany: Germany catches France on the counter-attack and might have sealed the victory, but Muller shot straight into Varane’s chest.
84th minute, 1-0 Germany: Olivier Giroud replaces Valbuena, as France makes its third and final substitution.
Giroud can trouble Germany with his strength, height and heading ability inside the penalty area, but the France striker may not have enough time to make the desired impact.
83rd minute, 1-0 Germany: Mario Gotze is replacing Ozil, as Germany makes its second substitution.
82nd minute, 1-0 Germany: Lloris makes a great kick save on Schurrle to keep the score as it is.
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Schurrle might rue the missed chance. Schurrle had a lot of the goal at his disposal, but his shot was close enough to Lloris for him to kick it away.
80th minute, 1-0 Germany: Schweinsteiger is cautioned for a foul on Griezmann.
77th minute, 1-0 Germany: Matuidi shoots from a tight angle and close range, but the Neuer confidently punches it away.
France is playing much better in the second half.
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76th minute, 1-0 Germany: Hummels denies France once again, as his lunging block prevent’s Benzema’s shot from testing Neuer.
73rd minute, 1-0 Germany: France makes another change — this time a shape-altering one — as Loic Remy comes on for Cabaye.
France now has two orthodox strikers, Remy and Benzema, on the field. It’s likely that Griezmann and Valbuana will operate out wide, while Matuidi and Pogba will patrol the center.
72nd minute, 1-0 Germany: France makes a change to its back line, as Laurent Koscielny replaces Sakho.
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Sakho has battled a hamstring injury recently, which kept him out of France’ s Round of 16 victory against Nigeria.
69th minute, 1-0 Germany: Germany is making the first substitution of the game in an effort to re-establish itself as the chief protagonist in the second half.
Schurrle replaces Klose, who failed to break the World Cup’s goal-scoring record in Friday’s outing.
60th minute, 1-0 Germany: France still holds the imitative in the second half, and it ends with another unsuccessful scoring chance.
Varane headed a shot toward the top corner, but Neuer saved it easily. Varane did well to out-jump Hummels, but the header needed more power, considering the distance from which he shot.
54th minute, 1-0 Germany: Khedira is cautioned for dragging down Griezmann after the France midfielder blew past him.
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It’s the first yellow card of a game, which has been played in a good spirit. There haven’t been many, if any, unnecessarily tough challenges. They’ve been fair for the most part. It could be why the referee hasn’t played a big part in the spectacle (which is always a good thing).
52nd minute, 1-0 Germany: France opens the second half vigorously, but it needs more quality in the final third to create an undeniable scoring chance.
46th minute, 1-0 Germany: The second half is underway.
France can take some positives from the first half, but it must improve its possession in the second period.
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Halftime, 1-0 Germany: That’s the end of the first half. Germany leads by one at the break.
Germany is continuing its trend of doing well enough to reach the next step without excelling overall. France has made it difficult for Germany to create chances in its half, but Germany converted its best chance.
France had more quality scoring chances in the first 45 minutes. France is exploiting the space behind Germany’s high defensive line, but Neuer and Hummels have been heroes so far.
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The game has been a fast and physical contest in the heat of Rio de Janiero. How long can the two teams maintain this pace?
44th minute, 1-0 Germany: Benzema cuts inside the Germany penalty and shoots with his right foot, but his effort goes straight to the well-positioned Neuer.
42nd minute, 1-0 Germany: France is on the attack, and Hummels comes to Germany’s rescue.
Benzema had a header from close range, but Hummels leaped and blocked it with his stomach.
37th minute, 1-0 Germany: Khedira is down after Debuchy’s clearance hits him in the face.
33rd minute, 1-0 Germany: Neuer saves Valbuena’s sidewinder show. The rebound falls to Benzema, but Hummels blocks it away.
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33rd minute , 1-0 Germany: Debuchy and Muller become entangled in France’s penalty area. The German forward wants a penalty kick, but the referee declines his request.
27th minute, 1-0 Germany: There has been a dearth of action since Hummels scored.
The teams have shared possession — somewhere near 50/50 — but France has shown more aggression going forward, while Germany has dropped its defensive line deeper.
France’s attack has broken down more than once because Benzema has been ruled offside.
19th minute, 1-0 Germany: Defending set pieces has been a problem for France this summer.
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13th minute, 1-0 Germany: Hummels puts Germany in front by heading Kroos’ free kick past Lloris.
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Kroos delivered the free kick to the perfect spot inside the France penalty area, as it was nearly impossible for Lloris to leave his line and intercept it. Hummels still had to out-duel Varane for the header. The Germany defender showed strength and poise with a header that glanced off the crossbar and went in the goal.
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Seventh minute, 0-0: France has the first clear-cut scoring chance.
Griezmann chipped a pass to Benzema inside the Germany penalty area, but the France striker volleyed his shot wide.
Sixth minute, 0-0: Germany has all the possession so far and is trying to push all 10 field players into France’s half.
But Germany hasn’t created much danger, as France is maintaining its poise even when pinned into its own third of the final.
First minute, 0-0: The 2014 World Cup quarterfinal between France and Germany is underway.
Kickoff: The anthems are set to begin.
France-Germany will include a matchup of two of the best goalkeepers in the world, as Hugo Lloris and Manuel Neuer man the goals for their respective countries.
Lahm moves back to his natural position at right back. The Germany captain has played all four of his team’s 2014 World Cup games as a defensive midfielder.
Hummels returns to the starting 11 after missing the Algeria game with flu-like symptoms. While the German center back is healthy, as many as seven of his teammates are suffering from a similar ailment, according to Germany head coach Joachim Low.
Klose is a surprise starter for Germany. The 36-year-0ld striker will become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with his next goal.
Pregame: Here are the lineups:
France
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Germany
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11:30 a.m. ET: The quarterfinals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup begin Friday when France and Germany, two of world soccer’s big shots, face off at the Estadio do Maracana in Rio de Janiero.
France thrilled fans with its high-powered attack in the tournament’s early games, but “Les Bleus” have taken a more balanced and patient approach as the stakes have grown. France demonstrated the benefits of patience and focus when it defeated Nigeria in the Round of 16 to set up a meeting with Germany.
Germany was one of the pre-tournament favorites to win the 2014 World Cup, but it has yet to hit its highest gear. Germany handily won Group G but nearly became a victim of an upset when Algeria took it to extra time in the Round of 16. Germany is looking to realized its true potential against France.
It’s the first time these two countries have met in a major international tournament since 1986. A place in the 2014 World Cup semifinal is on the line.
The game kicks off at noon. Stay right here for all the action from the Estadio do Maracana.
