Extra-time goals by Andre Schurrle and Mesut Ozil were enough for Germany to beat Algeria in an enthralling World Cup Round of 16 match.
Extra-time goals by Andre Schurrle and Mesut Ozil were enough for Germany to beat Algeria in an enthralling World Cup Round of 16 match.
In what seemed a one sided tie on paper beforehand, Joachim Low's side found their match in Porto Alegre against the inspired North Africans. The Desert Foxes took their illustrious opponents to extra-time and even scored a last minute consolation themselves, but it came too late to force penalties.
Sampdoria’s” data-scaytid=”6″>Sampdoria’s Shkodran Mustafi started for the Europeans in place of Max Hummels, who has been suffering from injury problems of late.
Lazio’s” data-scaytid=”10″>Lazio’s Miroslav Klose was named on the bench once again, requiring one goal to become the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Algeria, the last remaining African team in the tournament following Nigeria’s elimination earlier today, lined-up with Napoli’s Faouzi Ghoulam and Inter’s Saphir Taider in their 11.
The match began in predictable fashion, with Vahid Halilhodzic’s side happy to allow the Germans possession before launching a counter-attack. It was a tactic that worked very effectively in the opening stages and should have brought them the lead.
Firstly, Islam Slimani got in behind the high German defensive line as he latched onto a long through ball. Fortunately for Low’s team, Manuel Neuer was off his line quickly to smother the danger.
Moments later, Slimani got on the end of El Arabi Soudani’s perfect cross to nod the ball home, but the goal was correctly ruled out for offside.
Then, left-back Ghoulam was played in on the left of the German penalty area. However, his effort flashed across the face of goal and out of play.
At the other end, Bastian Schweinsteiger’s shot from range was the closest Germany came in the opening 20 minutes. In truth, they were lucky to still be level.
The Germans continued to struggle to establish any sort of rhythm as the half wore on, with Algeria continuing to threaten to expose their high line. Neuer had to rush off his line twice more to deal with dangerous balls forward, before Mehdi Mostefa’s shot from distance was deflected not far wide.
Germany did improve in the last five minutes before the break. Toni Kroos’ shot was well kept out by Desert Foxes keeper Rais Mbholi, with the shot stopper doing even better to smother Mario Gotze’s follow up.
The opening stages of the second half were just as action filled as the Germans upped their game. Mustafi headed straight at Mbolhi from a corner when he ought to have done better, substitute Andre Schurrle went close and Philipp Lahm‘s curling effort was expertly tipped to safety by the Algerian keeper.
The North Africans, however, rode out the spell of heavy pressure and began to look threatening once more themselves. Neuer yet again had to come sharply off his line to deal with a searching ball, while Slimani shot straight at the German goalkeeper following another dangerous counter-attack.
With around then minutes to play, Germany passed up three guilt edged chances to finally make the breakthrough. First, Thomas Muller saw a header from point blank range magnificently saved by Mbholi. Schurrle pounced on the rebound, but his effort from inside the six-yard box was blocked.
Then, Muller found space after turning inside the penalty area, but he fired off target when he ought to have done much better.
The pressure continued to mount as Schweinsteiger headed straight at Mbholi, but a truly heroic performance by the Algerians earned them extra-time.
In Germany’s very first attack of the additional 30 minute period, they managed to do what they had failed to do over the 90 minutes that preceded it. Schurrle deftly flicked home Muller’s square pass to finally give his side the lead.
Algeria tried to respond and were so close to doing so following a corner. However, Mostefa snatched at his shot and pulled it wide when he should have at least tested Neuer.
Both sides continued to pour forward in search of goals, but with Algeria tiring they began to leave themselves exposed at the back.
After several near misses, Ozil finally appeared to make the game safe when he smashed home the rebound after Schurrle had another effort blocked.
Barely a minute later, however, substitute Abdel Djabou pulled one back for the Desert Foxes with an excellent left-footed finish. They simply refused to lie down, but the goal came too late and Germany now progress to face France in the quarter-finals.
Germany 2-1 Algeria (aet)
Scorers: Schurrle 92 (G), Ozil 119 (G), Djabou 120 (A)
Germany: Neuer; Mustafi (Khedira 70), Mertesacker, Boateng, Howedes; Lahm, Schweinsteiger (Kramer 109); Ozil, Kroos, Gotze (Schurrle 45); Muller
Algeria: Mbolhi, Ghoulam, Belkalem, Halliche (c) (Bougherra 97), Lacen, Feghouli, Slimani, Soudani (Djabou 100), Taider, Mandi, Mostefa
Ref: Ricci (BRA)