Germany deny heroic Algeria in extra-time
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ByEurosport
Updated 01/07/2014 at 02:01 GMT
World Cup, Round of 16, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre – Germany 2 (Schuerrle 92, Ozil 120) Algeria 1 (Djabou 120+1)
Germany's Mesut Ozil (L) celebrates his goal against Algeria with teammate Andre Schuerrle in extra time during their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game at the Beira Rio stadium (Reuters)
Image credit: Reuters
Andre Schuerrle and Mesut Ozil scored in extra-time double to put Germany into the quarter-finals of the World Cup following a real test of their credentials against Algeria.
The African side posed a threat all the way through the game, and had opportunities to put Joachim Loew’s team to the sword, but in the end Schuerrle and Ozil’s goals were enough to ensure Germany didn’t suffer a shock exit, despite Abdel Djabou’s last-gasp consolation goal.
Algeria started the game at a rate of knots, coming close to opening the scoring within 10 minutes, when Manuel Neuer was caught out of position rushing off his line to stop an attack. Islam Slimani looked set to leave the keeper in his wake 40 yards out from goal, but Neuer made a last ditch tackle to spare his blushes.
Halilhodzic’s side continued to press high and attack Germany, with Sofiane Feghouli seeing a wonderful diving header correctly disallowed for offside as Germany struggled to deal with Algeria’s energy.
Germany started to take a grip of the game towards the end of the first half, and continued that control after the restart. But Algeria retained a razor sharp threat on the break and were unfortunate not to find the net when Feghouli fizzed a shot across the face of goal.
However, Thomas Mueller passed up a glorious chance to score the winner 10 minutes from time, when the Bayern Munich man heading straight at Rais M’Bohli from an unmarked position 10 yards out.
Bastian Schweinsteiger was also wasteful from an almost identical position, guiding his weak header into the arms of the Algerian keeper, with just seconds of regulation time remaining.
But with just minutes of extra time played Schuerrle found the net with an improvised finish from a Mueller cross, giving Germany the lead they had worked so hard to find.
And Ozil put the result beyond any doubt late in the second half of extra time, smashing the ball home after Schuerrle’s initial shot was saved on the line.
Algeria did find the goal their performance deserved, with Djabou sliding in at the back post to send the deep cross into the back of Neuer’s net, but it was too little too late as Germany made the last eight.
KEY MOMENTS
9’ - COUNTER ATTACK! Slimani comes close to putting Algeria ahead! The ball is played in behind the Germany back four, which is camped on the halfway line, for Slimani to run onto. Neuer comes 40 yards off his line, and for a moment it looks like he's rounded the keeper, but he makes a recovery tackle in the nick of time!
15’ - CHANCE! Another good chance for Algeria! Feghouli does brilliantly to jink past the tackle of Boateng and make the by-line. He has Soudani to square the ball back to, but he decides to shoot himself from a tight angle and blasts over! Oh dear.
17’ - DISALLOWED! Algeria have the ball in the net following a wonderful diving header by Feghouli! But the flag is up for offside, and indeed the player was in an offside position when the cross was played into the box.
40’ - DOUBLE SAVE! M'Bohli makes a superb double save! The Algerian keeper actually made a mess of the initial shot, even though it bounced right at his feet, but he was up in a flash to smother the close range shot from Gotze.
50’ - DEFLECTED WIDE! Just as Loew probably imagined it, Schuerrle gets in behind the back four and gets a shot away at goal. But the Chelsea player's shot is deflected high and inches wide of the target. Very close to an opener.
56’ - FINGER TIPS! Finger tip save from M'Bohli! Lahm winds up an effort from the edge of the box, with the ball set to find the top corner of the Algerian net, but the keeper tips it round the post. Fantastic agility!
74’ - FEGHOULI SHOT! Algeria are having a right go again, and this time Feghouli comes mightily close to catching out Neuer, with a low shot fizzed across the face of goal. There wasn't much in that.
80’ - CLEARCUT! What a chance for Mueller! Khedira finds his team-mate unmarked on the penalty spot with a great cross into the box, but Mueller heads straight at M'Bohli and Halliche is on hand to clear Schuerrle's rebound off the line!
89’ - SHOULD HAVE SCORED! Great chance for Schweinsteiger but he manages to direct his header from 10 yards into the arms of the Algerian keeper. That was a decent chance for the German midfielder. He just couldn't generate the power in his header.
93’ - OPENER! Germany have the breakthrough! Mueller gets in behind the Algerian defence before picking out Schuerrle in the centre, and the striker turns it home with a backheel flick!
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3D goal: Andre Schuerrle for Germany
119’ - SEALED! And that should be that. Between Schuerrle and Ozil Germany find their second goal and book their place in the last eight of the World Cup.
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3D goal: Mesut Ozil for Germany
120’ - CONSOLATION! They've got one back! The ball is slung into the back post from the right side and Djabou turns it home on the slide. They can't, can they?
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3D goal: Abdelmoumene Djabou for Algeria
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Germany's forward Andre Schuerrle (C) scores past Algeria's goalkeeper Rais Mbohli (AFP)
Image credit: AFP
KEY STATS
For the first time in 24 years, three goals were scored in extra-time of a World Cup match (Cameroon 2-1 Colombia in 1990 was the last time).
Algeria had 33% possession in this game, only against Belgium (2014) have they had less in any of their previous World Cup matches.
Germany's total of 28 shots (inc. blocked) is a record for this edition of the tournament.
Toni Kroos (473) has had more touches than any other player at this World Cup so far, Philipp Lahm (437) is the only other player to have more than 400.
Germany have now scored seven goals in extra-time in the World Cup, surpassing France as the most prolific extra-time scorers in tournament history.
Algeria (7) have scored more goals in this tournament than in their previous three World Cup finals combined (6).
Germany have beaten France just once in six meetings since reunification.
Algeria have kept a clean sheet in just one of their 13 World Cup matches (0-0 v England in 2010).
TALKING POINT
Is Joachim Loew’s stubbornness working against him? With Germany short of options at full-back you wonder why Low continues to play Philipp Lahm in the centre of midfield, especially when Sami Khedira is sitting on the bench. Lahm plays in the middle at Bayern Munich, but he is still one of the finest full-backs in the game. He would surely be of more use to Germany in that position that in midfield.
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Algeria's Sofiane Feghouli is consoled by teammate Algeria's Carl Medjani (R) after their loss to Germany at the end of their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game at the Beira Rio stadium (Reuters)
Image credit: Reuters
MAN OF THE MATCH
Andre Schuerrle: Until the Chelsea player’s introduction at half-time, Germany had been lacking impetuous in the final third, looking to play the ball into feet rather than get in behind the Algerian defence. But Schuerrle changed that and gave Germany a real attacking outline all the way across the frontline, scoring the crucial opener and playing a part in the second as well.
PLAYER RATINGS
Germany: Neuer 7, Mustafi 5, Mertesacker 6, Boateng 6, Howedes 4, Kroos 5, Lahm 5, Schweinsteiger 6, Ozil 5, Gotze 5, Mueller 7. Subs: Schuerrle 8, Khedira 6, Kramer 5.
Algeria: M’Bolhi 7, Ghoulam 7, Halliche 7, Berkalem 5, Mandi 5, Lacen 6, Mostefa 6, Soudani 7, Taider 5, Feghouli 7, Slimani 7. Subs: Brahimi 6, Bougherra 5, Djabou 6.
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