Germany reach World Cup semi-finals as Mats Hummels header sinks France
Germany did not need any miracles on this occasion. Sixty years to
the day since the old West Germany fashioned the Wonder of Berne to beat
Hungary in the final of the 1954 World Cup, Joachim Löw’s current crop
produced a performance of cool authority to edge one step closer to
another title.
This was a long way from being another wild ride at this tournament of thrillers and the narrative was shaped instead by more traditional German virtues such as control and discipline. There was always the sense that they had the upper hand and they were unlikely to relinquish it, despite France’s best efforts to hit them on quick counters or from the wings.
Didier Deschamps’ team had the chances and they fought until the bitter end. Karim Benzema, their sharpest attacking threat, tricked through in injury-time only to be thwarted by a mighty swipe of Manuel Neuer’s hand.
French regrets, though, will centre on the moment early in the contest when the defender Raphaël Varane did not do enough to prevent Mats Hummels from heading home from Toni Kroos’ free-kick. It was fitting that the quarter-final’s decisive snap-shot should have been shaped by a defender. Hummels deserved to be named as the man of the match.
There would be no revenge for France for the heart-breaking semi-final loss to Germany at Spain ’82, a game that was marked by the shattering injury that Patrick Battiston suffered at the hands of Toni Schumacher. Germany march on.
There had been changes from Löw to his Germany team in what was only the fourth meeting between the nations at a major tournament. Midfield was always going to be decisive and Löw opted to start both Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira, with Philipp Lahm switching from his holding role to right-back.
It was certainly a populist move; there had been the clamour in Germany for Löw to make the switch. Lahm is the team’s best defender and he offered further evidence as to why over these 90 minutes. Hummels, though, trumped him.
Germany’s formation did not change and it matched up to that of Deschamps. Schweinsteiger was charged with calling the tune from the deepest-lying midfield role and Thomas Müller with bringing his direct style to bear on the left-back Patrice Evra. Müller was relentless. His teammates refer to him as ‘Radio’ because he never stops talking and he does not stop running, either.
France had flickered before Germany took the lead. Benzema had the first chance, a volley that he dragged wide, after Mathieu Valbuena’s incision and there were other occasions when those in blue looked ready to expose Germany. German defenders had to stretch to make important interventions.
The breakthrough owed everything to the power of Hummels, which was clearly back on maximum after the bout of fever that had ruled him out of the last-16 tie against Algeria. From the moment that Kroos addressed the free-kick, Hummels had his arm outstretched to fend off Varane. As Kroos’s ball came in, whipped with precision, Hummels continued to mark his territory, refusing to allow Varane to make the challenge before he guided the header beyond Hugo Lloris. It bounced down and in off the underside of the crossbar for added emphasis.
Varane had to be stronger. Then again, Hummels and this Germany team are formidable, even in such heat. The 90 % humidity brought back memories of the semi-final between the countries in Guadalajara at Mexico ’86 and it was test of endurance, as much as anything else. The pattern was entrenched from the early running; Germany hogging possession, their movement and short passing sharp, looking to wear down their opponents and France snapping on the counter, making inroads down the flanks and with balls over the top.
The German defensive line was not as high as it had been against Algeria, which meant that the goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, did not need to charge off his line but France got in behind them at times. They had the chances to have been level at the interval, with the clearest falling to Valbuena after Antoine Griezmann’s wonderful driven cross. Valbuena’s shot was saved by Neuer – a very smart save – and, from the rebound, Hummels blocked from Benzema.
Hummels lost Benzema from Evra’s cross and he was fortunate that the striker headed at him while Benzema cut inside and tested Neuer. At the other end, Miroslav Klose fell theatrically inside the area but Mathieu Debuchy did tug his shirt.
There was the impression that Germany were attempting to tick off five- minute blocks of time in the second half, to stay compact and see the job through. It was reinforced when Löw withdrew Klose and sent on André Schürrle, asking him to break from the right.
Schürrle might have made the closing stages more comfortable for his team. Having set his sights with a 73rd minute shot which Lloris saved, he was presented with two glorious opportunities on swift Germany counters.
The first was created by Mesut Özil, who otherwise struggled and looked non-plussed when he was substituted. Özil’s cross was missed by Müller but Schürrle looked the favourite to convert behind him. Lloris saved. Towards the very end, from Müller’s cross, Schürrle was denied by a brave block by Varane.
France tried to get onto the front foot in the second half; to press higher up the field and get their full-backs forward on the overlap. And they had a further clutch of chances. Benzema was denied by a Hummels block and Blaise Matuidi had a shot saved by Neuer. When Neuer thwarted Benzema again at the very end, France were staring at the exit.
This was a long way from being another wild ride at this tournament of thrillers and the narrative was shaped instead by more traditional German virtues such as control and discipline. There was always the sense that they had the upper hand and they were unlikely to relinquish it, despite France’s best efforts to hit them on quick counters or from the wings.
Didier Deschamps’ team had the chances and they fought until the bitter end. Karim Benzema, their sharpest attacking threat, tricked through in injury-time only to be thwarted by a mighty swipe of Manuel Neuer’s hand.
French regrets, though, will centre on the moment early in the contest when the defender Raphaël Varane did not do enough to prevent Mats Hummels from heading home from Toni Kroos’ free-kick. It was fitting that the quarter-final’s decisive snap-shot should have been shaped by a defender. Hummels deserved to be named as the man of the match.
There would be no revenge for France for the heart-breaking semi-final loss to Germany at Spain ’82, a game that was marked by the shattering injury that Patrick Battiston suffered at the hands of Toni Schumacher. Germany march on.
There had been changes from Löw to his Germany team in what was only the fourth meeting between the nations at a major tournament. Midfield was always going to be decisive and Löw opted to start both Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira, with Philipp Lahm switching from his holding role to right-back.
It was certainly a populist move; there had been the clamour in Germany for Löw to make the switch. Lahm is the team’s best defender and he offered further evidence as to why over these 90 minutes. Hummels, though, trumped him.
Germany’s formation did not change and it matched up to that of Deschamps. Schweinsteiger was charged with calling the tune from the deepest-lying midfield role and Thomas Müller with bringing his direct style to bear on the left-back Patrice Evra. Müller was relentless. His teammates refer to him as ‘Radio’ because he never stops talking and he does not stop running, either.
France had flickered before Germany took the lead. Benzema had the first chance, a volley that he dragged wide, after Mathieu Valbuena’s incision and there were other occasions when those in blue looked ready to expose Germany. German defenders had to stretch to make important interventions.
The breakthrough owed everything to the power of Hummels, which was clearly back on maximum after the bout of fever that had ruled him out of the last-16 tie against Algeria. From the moment that Kroos addressed the free-kick, Hummels had his arm outstretched to fend off Varane. As Kroos’s ball came in, whipped with precision, Hummels continued to mark his territory, refusing to allow Varane to make the challenge before he guided the header beyond Hugo Lloris. It bounced down and in off the underside of the crossbar for added emphasis.
Varane had to be stronger. Then again, Hummels and this Germany team are formidable, even in such heat. The 90 % humidity brought back memories of the semi-final between the countries in Guadalajara at Mexico ’86 and it was test of endurance, as much as anything else. The pattern was entrenched from the early running; Germany hogging possession, their movement and short passing sharp, looking to wear down their opponents and France snapping on the counter, making inroads down the flanks and with balls over the top.
The German defensive line was not as high as it had been against Algeria, which meant that the goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, did not need to charge off his line but France got in behind them at times. They had the chances to have been level at the interval, with the clearest falling to Valbuena after Antoine Griezmann’s wonderful driven cross. Valbuena’s shot was saved by Neuer – a very smart save – and, from the rebound, Hummels blocked from Benzema.
Hummels lost Benzema from Evra’s cross and he was fortunate that the striker headed at him while Benzema cut inside and tested Neuer. At the other end, Miroslav Klose fell theatrically inside the area but Mathieu Debuchy did tug his shirt.
There was the impression that Germany were attempting to tick off five- minute blocks of time in the second half, to stay compact and see the job through. It was reinforced when Löw withdrew Klose and sent on André Schürrle, asking him to break from the right.
Schürrle might have made the closing stages more comfortable for his team. Having set his sights with a 73rd minute shot which Lloris saved, he was presented with two glorious opportunities on swift Germany counters.
The first was created by Mesut Özil, who otherwise struggled and looked non-plussed when he was substituted. Özil’s cross was missed by Müller but Schürrle looked the favourite to convert behind him. Lloris saved. Towards the very end, from Müller’s cross, Schürrle was denied by a brave block by Varane.
France tried to get onto the front foot in the second half; to press higher up the field and get their full-backs forward on the overlap. And they had a further clutch of chances. Benzema was denied by a Hummels block and Blaise Matuidi had a shot saved by Neuer. When Neuer thwarted Benzema again at the very end, France were staring at the exit.
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