FRANCE VS GERMANY WORLD CUP 2014

4th July 201422:00 LIVE

World Cup

*Quarterfinals: Match 58 / Referee: Nestor PITANA (ARG); Assistant Referee 1: Hernan MAIDANA (ARG); Assistant Referee 2: Juan Pablo BELATTI (ARG); Fourth official: Jonas ERIKSSON (SWE)

Stadium: Estadio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

France vs. Germany, 2014 World Cup: Hummels header enough for Die Mannschaft

Germany grabbed an early goal on a header by Mats Hummels and shut up shop, restricting France's scoring chances in a 1-0 win.

For the first time in this World Cup, France trail, thanks to this gorgeous header by Mats Hummels.There hasn't been a ton going on in midfield early in this game, with both teams doing a pretty good job of getting into the attacking third. Unfortunately for France, this goal came just a couple of minutes after they squandered a great chance of their own.Germany lead, 1-0.

Goal! Mats Hummels has given Germany the lead in the 12th minute, heading the ball into the top corner of Hugo Lloris’s net from a free kick.

This is a rollicking start from the Germans. France has barely touched the ball so far.

German fans have been particularly anxious in the lead-up to this quarter-final, with seven players reportedly suffering from a virus.

Without naming anyone, manager Joachim Loew confirmed the players were showing symptoms of illness. It’s likely to be a hot day Rio de Janeiro, so any sickness could prove to be extremely sapping.

German forward Miroslav Klose copped a ball to the face this morning. We imagine it hurt almost as much as, say, a loss in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. But not quite. Sorry France.

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer beat away a powerful, last ditch shot from Karim Benzema in the final minute of stoppage time to seal a solid 1-0 win for Germany.

It saw the Germans reach the World Cup semi-finals for a record fourth straight time.

The match was surprisingly low-scoring, given the talent in both teams’ forward lines and their presumed frailties at the back. But Germany defended strongly throughout, and probably was the better side.

That was certainly the case for the opening 25 minutes, during which the Germans dominated possession. Defender Mats Hummels headed home the game’s only goal from a free kick in the 12th minute.

Substitute Andre Schuerrle, who was so effective for Germany in its round of 16 tie against Algeria, had several fantastic chances to extend his team’s lead in the dying stages, but couldn’t convert either of them.

It didn’t matter in the end, however, as Neuer shut down France’s final opportunity.