'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A searing hot day in Rio de Janeiro saw Germany defeat France by a solitary goal. The goal was scored early in the first half by Mats Hummels. The win ensured that Germany would be taking part in a FIFA World Cup semifinal for a record 13th time, while also ensuring a 4th successive World Cup semifinal appearance. That is staggering consistency, something which not even the great Brazilian sides of the 50s and 60s can match.
Trending
This was a game where the Germans were their usual selves. Efficient on the ball, solid at the back, and they never allowed France to dictate terms. For Les Blues, they will be left wondering what might have been, had it not been for a couple of brilliant saves from Manuel Neuer.
Here’s a closer look at the individual performance of each player.
France
Hugo Lloris: 6/10
Could do nothing about Hummels’ header from point blank range. In general, was very reliable and did his job when called upon. It was not a Tim Howard or Manuel Neuer like performance, but the France captain still did make a fantastic save from Andre Schurrle to keep the French in the game.
Mathieu Debuchy: 6/10
Was a constant outlet down the right flank for France, and linked up brilliantly with Mathieu Valbuena. Debuchy ensured that Mesut Ozil had a rather forgettable afternoon down Germany’s left flank, but in the end, it was not enough for the French.
Raphael Varane: 5/10
In the end, Varane will be held culpable for the one goal that the Germans scored. He was out-jumped by Hummels and that was after he had dropped deep far too early, ensuring that the big German got closer to the goal, making it easier for him to head the ball past Lloris.
Mamadou Sakho: 6/10
Sakho was his usual self. Strong, athletic, and very difficult to get past. Made a couple of stray passes towards the end. But, what will be a point of concern for Didier Deschamps was that Sakho was once again unable to complete the 90 minutes.
Patrice Evra: 4.5/10
Even by his own dropping standards, Evra had a quiet game. Defensively, he did not do enough to keep Thomas Muller quiet, nor did he do anything in an attacking sense to support the likes of Valbuena and Antoine Griezmann.
Yohan Cabaye: 5.5/10
Again, another player who was on the fringes of the game, waiting to explode, but didn’t. Cabaye did break up most of the German play, but his usually reliable passing was often found wanting in this game, and perhaps that is why he was chosen as the midfielder to be sacrificed when Deschamps looked to throw everything at it.
Blaise Matuidi: 6/10
Matuidi had a rather quiet game, but threatened the German goal on a couple of occasions, both of which were easily repelled by the rearguard. Matuidi would have possibly done better had he got some support from the likes of Cabaye and Paul Pogba in midfield.
Paul Pogba: 5/10
Pogba chose the worst time possible to go anonymous at this World Cup. France needed the energy and athleticism of Pogba to compete against a strong German midfield, but instead, what France got was a meek performance from him.
Mathieu Valbuena: 6.5/10
Valbuena was among the few French players who actually showed some urgency. Put in some testing crosses, and had what was possibly France’s best chance of the game in the first half, when his left footed shot was brilliantly saved by Neuer.
Antoine Griezmann: 7/10
The winger from Real Sociedad was France’s best player on the day. Griezmann was the one French player who actually looked like he could make something happen. This performance makes it even more puzzling as to how Olivier Giroud was preferred over him in France’s previous game.
Karim Benzema: 4/10 – Flop of the Match
Extremely poor from the Real Madrid man. Had next to no impact on the game, and gave Hummels and Jerome Boateng very little to think about. Had a late stinger of a shot that was expertly dealt with by Neuer.
Substitutes
Laurent Koscielny: 5/10
Koscielny did what he was called upon to do, making an important block towards the end to deny Schurrle.
Loic Remy: 4/10
Remy was anonymous, after he was brought on to sharpen the French attack.
Olivier Giroud: 4/10
Giroud did more bad than good for the French in the few minutes that he was on the field, as he gave the ball away cheaply, and also gave away needless free kicks.
Germany
Manuel Neuer: 7/10
Another top performance from possible the world’s best goalkeeper at the moment. Neuer didn’t put a foot wrong, and commanded his area to perfection. He also made a couple of brilliant saves to deny Valbuena and Benzema.
Philipp Lahm: 6/10
Germany’s Mr. Reliable. Lahm was moved away from his now customary midfield role to the right back position that he had made his own previously. In this game, Lahm put in a display that will go unnoticed, but was a calming influence on the German defense.
Jerome Boateng: 5.5/10
The weak link in this German defense. Boateng got caught out on a couple of occasions, and would have been kicking himself had it not been for the brilliance of Neuer.
Mats Hummels: 8/10 – Man of the Match
Had an absolutely outstanding game. Hummels made a bright start with a perfect header that he put past Lloris, and after that, he didn’t put a foot wrong defensively, as he repelled whatever the French threw at Germany.
Benedikt Howedes: 6/10
A solid, unspectacular performance, from the German left back. Didn’t offer much going forward, but ensured that he was a tough nut to crack defensively.
Bastian Schweinsteiger: 5/10
Schweinsteiger could have conceded a penalty in the first half, for a possible foul on Griezmann, which went unnoticed by the referee. Apart from that as well, Schweinsteiger was found wanting on a couple of occasions by the trickery and pace of Valbuena and Griezmann. In truth, one of his not so good outings for Germany.
Sami Khedira: 6/10
Khedira had a reasonable game. He tried to drive the Germans forward at every possible opportunity. Was yellow carded for a rather cynical tackle on Griezmann.
Toni Kroos: 6/10
Another solid performance from someone who is slowly becoming Germany’s mainstay in midfield. Kroos’s set pieces were delightfully curled in, and it was one of those that Hummels got his head onto for the eventual winner.
Mesut Özil: 5/10
Özil was rather well marshaled by the French defense. Didn’t have too much of a role in most of the German attacks.
Thomas Muller: 6/10
Muller had a quiet game, but he worked tirelessly for Germany. Even as late as the second half stoppage time, he was pressing the goalkeeper, and making life difficult for the French.
Miroslav Klose: 5/10
Klose barely registered a touch of the ball in the first half, and was eventually replaced by Schurrle.
Substitutes
Andre Schurrle: 6/10
Schurrle looked bright after coming on, and had two clear cut opportunities. One of them was brilliantly saved by Lloris, and the other blocked by Koscielny.
Mario Gotze: 5/10
Couldn’t make an impression on the game, as the Germans were intent on preserving their lead rather than increasing it.
Christoph Kramer: N/A
Kramer came on in a late time-wasting substitution.
