World Cup 2014 – Scout Notes – Matchday 4, Day 3

Paul Pogba’s first goal of the tournament helps France on their way to a late win over Nigeria. Germany and Algeria need extra-time to separate them, with Andre Schurrle and Mesut Ozil grabbing late goals as Joachim Low’s side sneak through:

France Cruise into the Quarters
A Paul Pogba header and Joseph Yobo own goal were enough to see off the challenge of Nigeria and steer Didier Deschamps’ side into the last eight. Karim Benzema was a heavy armband favourite after serving up three goals and two assists in the group stages but the Real Madrid man blanked for the second successive match, having failed to deliver in the goalless draw with Ecuador last time around. Olivier Giroud owners will be concerned over his starting role against Germany – Deschamps’ decision to replace the Arsenal man with Antoine Griezmann around the hour mark added more urgency to Les Bleus’ attacking play and could allow Benzema back into the middle of the front three against Germany.

The 2-0 win served up a third clean sheet in four for France and underlined their Fantasy-friendly backline. After playing all three group games, Mamadou Sakho missed out through injury yesterday, meaning no French defender has started all four of those matches – only Hugo Lloris has benefitted from the three shut-outs.

Personnel-wise, Deschamps made six changes to his starting XI last night. Rafael Varane, Mathieu Debuchy and Patrice Evra come in for Mamadou Sakho, Bacary Sagna and Lucas Digne in defence, Yohan Cabaye replaced Morgan Schneiderlin in central midfield after serving a one-match suspension, whilst Mathieu Valbuena and Giroud were drafted in for Moussa Sissoko and Griezmann in the front three.

In the FIFA McDonald’s game, Mathieu Debuchy nine recovered balls was top amongst the French, with Rafael Varane and Yohan Cabaye next in line, with seven and six respectively. For Nigeria, the back-four all stood out – Efe Ambrose and Kenneth Omeruo both managed six, while Juwon Oshaniwa and Joseph Yobo produced five apiece.

Germany Leaves it Late
Joachim Low’s side were strongly favoured heading into last night’s encounter but required extra-time to book a place against France in the last eight. Mario Gotze replaced the injured Lukas Podolski on the left of the front three to earn his third start of the tournament but was subbed off for Andre Schurrle at the break – the Chelsea man not only opened the scoring to strengthen his claims for a start next time round, he fired seven attempts on goal against the Algerians, more than double all but Thomas Muller amongst the Germany side.

Muller’s owners picked up the points once again after the Bayern man supplied the assist for Schurrle’s strike to take his tally to four goals and two assists for the tournament. Mesut Ozil, meanwhile, belatedly got his campaign up and running with a goal in the 119th minute finally cementing victory.

In terms of player selection, Mats Hummels missed out due to illness – Jerome Boateng slotted into the middle of the back-four, allowing Shkodran Mustafi his first start of the tournament at right-back. Mustafi was forced off on 70 minutes, though, and with replacement Sami Khedira moving into central midfield, Philip Lahm – who had been utilised as a central midfield throughout the tournament – shifted into the back-four as cover.

Dajbou Nets Consolation as Algeria Bow Out
Vahid Halilhodzic surprisingly made five changes from the side that drew with Russia last time around. This saw Faouzi Ghoulam replace Djamel Mesbah at left-back, Nabil Bentaleb and Carl Medjani drop out in central midfield for Mehdi Lacen and Mehdi Mostefa, while in the attacking midfield three, Saphir Taider and El Arabi Soudani came in for Yacine Brahimi and Abdelmoumene Djabou.

Algeria mainly had Rais M’Bolhi to thank for keeping his side in the game, though. Low’s side registered 28 shots to their opponents’ 10 and fired 14 attempts on target but could only find a way past the stopper in extra-time. At the other end of the pitch, Djabou – on as a sub after 100 minutes – needed just 20 minutes to grab his second goal of the tournament to end joint-top scorer for his country, whilst Sofiane Feghouli’s assist maintained the consistent form which saw the cut-price midfielder produce points in three of his four appearances.

In the FIFA McDonald’s game, Per Mertesacker racked up 16 recovered balls over the 120 minutes for Germany. Jerome Boateng was next best on 12, while Benedikt Howedes and Philip Lahm (both eight), Bastian Schweinsteiger (six) and Toni Kroos (five) also impressed. For Algeria, Mehdi Lacen led the way with 11, while Faouzi Ghoulam (10), Essaid Belkalem (eight), Mehdi Mostefa, Rafik Halliche and Aissa Mandi (six), Sofiane Feghouli and Madjid Bougherra (five) also caught the eye.