World Cup: Hummels sinks France, sends Germany to semis

Agence France-Presse

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World Cup: Hummels sinks France, sends Germany to semis
Germany makes history as the only World Cup team to reach the semifinals four tournaments in a row
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (UPDATED) – Mats Hummels headed Germany into the World Cup’s last four as his first-half goal sealed a 1-0 win over France in Friday’s quarter-final at Brazil.

The center back’s powerful 12th-minute header at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium means Germany now face either Brazil or Colombia in Tuesday’s semifinal at Belo Horizonte.

Germany produced a polished, improved display on their extra-time win over Algeria in the last 16, to constantly frustrate France’s potent attack spearheaded by Karim Benzema.

This is the 13th time in 20 attempts Germany have reached the World Cup’s semi-finals and the fourth in succession since bowing out of the quarter-finals at France ’98.

French coach Didier Deschamps, who captained Les Bleus to the 1998 triumph, suffered his first defeat in 11 World Cup games as either a player or trainer.

Seven of the German squad had suffered with mild flu in the build-up as Hummels retured to take Per Mertesacker’s place at centre-back.

Miroslav Klose, the joint top-scorer at World Cup finals with 15 goals, was preferred up front with Thomas Mueller switching to the right wing.

Deschamps made two changes from the side who beat Nigeria in the last 16 with center back Mamadou Sakho back after a hamstring complaint while Antoine Griezmann replaced Olivier Giroud in attack.

Despite the Germans stranglehold on early possession, the first real chance feel to Benzema, who fired wide after seven minutes.

The Germans took the lead when Hummels, back in the side after missing Monday’s win over Algeria with flu, rose highest to head Toni Kroos’ free-kick.

His bullet header smashed in off the crossbar to claim his second goal of Brazil 2014 having also scored with a similar header in the 4-0 opening win over Portugal.

The goal rocked the French defence as the Germans started exerting pressure.

Klose’s run into the box was held back by a tug on his shirt from right-back Mathieu Debuchy, while a Thomas Mueller half-chance was quickly snubbed out.

France’s best chance came at the 33rd minute when Mathieu Valbuena’s shot was saved by Manuel Neuer and Benzema failed to control the follow-up, firing over the bar.

The French came close to being awarded a penalty just before the break when Benzema’s header hit Hummels in the stomach, missing his hands by inches.

The Real Madrid star then later fired straight at Neuer on a frustrating afternoon as it stayed 1-0 to Germany at the break.

Sami Khedira earned a deserved booking for fouling Griezmann on 54 minutes as France enjoyed a good spell of pressure as centre-back Raphael Varane’s header went straight to Neuer’s grateful hands.

Deschamps threw on forward Loic Remy and defender Laurent Koscielny for the final 20 minutes in a final throw of the dice.

But Germany’s replacement Andre Schuerrle should have made it 2-0 when he fired at French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris’ feet, then had a late shot blocked.

Neuer’s late save to deny Benzema means Germany head coach Joachim Loew has now reached the semi-finals of all of the last four major tournaments during his eight-year reign.

Brazil vs Colombia

In Friday’s other quarterfinal, Brazil will aim to banish their jittery second round performance against Chile when they face Colombia in Fortaleza.

To ensure his men were in the right state of mind for the battle ahead coach Luiz Felipe Scolari ordered an extra session with the team psychologist this week.

“I had never done anything like it before and I am quite enjoying it,” said Neymar, fully fit despite thigh and knee injuries against Chile.

Captain Thiago Silva insisted the squad was capable of coping with the pressure.

“I think we are good psychologically. We are doing what we love to do,” the Paris Saint-Germain defender said.

Scolari, mastermind of Brazil’s fifth title in 2002, cut a confident figure at the eve of match press conference.

“Does Brazil continue to have one hand on the trophy? Yes,” he said.

“We are going on to the fifth step and there are seven steps.”

The fourth step caused 200 million Brazilian hearts to flutter as Chile gave the hosts the fright of their lives in a bruising encounter, only succumbing in the spotkick lottery.

Four eyecatching wins have propelled Colombia to uncharted territory at the World Cup to face a rival they have only beaten twice in 25 meetings.

“We need to play our own game as we have done up to now and try to impose our play on them,” Argentine coach Jose Pekerman reflected.

“The key is not to believe there is a favourite.”

Friday’s games go ahead in the shadow of an overpass collapse in semi-final venue Belo Horizonte which killed two, and an illegal multi-million pound ticketing scandal involving a FIFA individual.

The quarter-final drama continues Saturday when the Netherlands play Costa Rica and Belgium take on Argentina.

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– Rappler.com

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