Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Rio de Janeiro: Germany made it to the semi-finals for the fourth successive FIFA World Cup after Mats Hummels first-half header was enough to knockout France as the two European football heavyweights went toe-to-toe in Saturday's quarter-final.
The historical omens were with Joachim Loew's side as the first quarter-final of Brazil 2014 with Friday's match at the Maracana taking place 60 years to the day that West Germany won their first FIFA World Cup, coming from 2-0 to defeat overwhelming favourites Hungary 3-2 in the 1954 final.
But the current generation of Die Mannschaft didn't have to worry about playing catch up with the French after Hummels put Germany one up two minutes shy of the quarter-of-an-hour mark with his second goal of the tournament.
The Borussia Dortmund defender, who was on target in Germany's 4-0 hammering of Portugal in their Brazil 2014 opener, out-muscled Raphael Varane to glance Toni Kroos' superb free-kick past France keeper Hugo Lloris and into the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar.
France's best chance of cancelling out Hummels' 13th minute header in the remainder of the first half came 12 minutes from the interval when Antoine Griezmann cut the ball back across the German penalty area where it was brought under control by Mathieu Valbuena, whose powerful angled drive drew a superb one-handed save from Manuel Neuer.
France started the second half positively but couldn't fashion a clear chance on goal until the hour mark when Varane attempted to have better luck at the opposite end of the pitch but the 21-year-old Real Madrid centre back couldn't get enough purchase on his header to trouble Neuer.
Three minutes after replacing Mamadou Sakho with Laurent Koscielny in defence, France coach Dider Deschamps made a more attack-minded substitution when the 1998 World Cup-winning captain brought on striker Loic Remy in place of midfielder Yohan Cabaye as Les Bleus pressed for the equaliser.
Andre Schurrle, a 67th minute replacement for Miroslav Klose, should have doubled Germany's advantage with nine minutes left on the clock when he was well-placed to dispatch Mesut Ozil's low cross from the left after Thomas Muller had failed to connect properly with the Arsenal attacker's centre.
However the Chelsea winger, who played a key role in Germany's Round of 16 extra-time win over Algeria, took his eye of the ball and his tame side-footed shot was kept out by the trailing leg of Lloris.
It mattered little as France were unable to find the key that would unlock a well-organised German defence although the Germans did need the strong arm of Neuer to deny Karim Benzema deep into stoppage-time.
Photo: AFP