Germany and France end African hopes

BELO HORIZONTE - Reuters

Germany's midfielder Mesut Özil celebrates at the end of a Round of 16 football match between Germany and Algeria at Beira-Rio Stadium in Porto Alegre. AFP Photo

Germany and France snuffed out African hopes and reached the World Cup quarter-finals on June 30 with hard-won victories over Algeria and Nigeria, while Uruguay striker Luis Suarez broke his silence to apologise for biting.

Both European powerhouses struggled for their wins, France needing late goals to see off African champions Nigeria 2-0 and Germany only securing their 2-1 victory over Algeria in extra time.

Germany and France will meet in the last eight on July 4, while disappointed Africans have no teams left to support.

It was the first time two African teams had reached the second round, but both went out within hours of each other to leave the continent still struggling to make an impact on the biggest stage.

In Porto Alegre, the sides were deadlocked at 0-0 after 90 minutes in a frantic end-to-end match in which Algeria goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi pulled off some fantastic saves but swift counter-attacks also gave the north Africans chances to win.

With the score 0-0 at full time, German substitute Andre Schuerrle deftly flicked in a low cross, before Mesut Özil added a second in the last minute.

There was still time for an Algerian consolation goal, by Abdelmoumene Djabou. It was no more than they deserved but not enough to prevent heartbreak at the final whistle.

"The Algerians did a good job, they disrupted us from the start and didn't let us get into our game. But it doesn't matter how we won," Schuerrle said.

The result kept Germany's enviable record of reaching at least the quarter-finals in every World Cup they have played in since 1938. It also denied Algeria revenge for a dark chapter in 1982 when, despite beating then West Germany, they went out after a seemingly contrived result between the Germans and Austria.

"We showed the whole world that Algeria has a great team," defender Madjid Bougherra said. "We fought all the way. At the start of Ramadan, we did a great job representing Algeria."    

France strike late

Earlier in Brasilia, France, seeking to make up for a humiliating early exit four years ago, left it late to break down a tough Nigeria, scoring twice in the last 11 minutes.

"Super Eagles" goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who had been excellent until then, flapped at a corner in the 79th minute, leaving Paul Pogba an open goal to head into after French pressure had built steadily in the second half. "It's one of the best moments of my life," Pogba said.

'Les Bleus' struck again at the death when Nigeria defender Joseph Yobo skewed a cross into his own goal.

Nigeria, who have never been beyond the last 16, had the better of the first half in a rough game that swung France's way after the Africans' influential midfielder Ogenyi Onazi was carried off following a late studs-up tackle by Blaise Matuidi.

Adding to a miserable day for Africa, Cameroon's football federation said it was to investigate claims of match-fixing at the World Cup, especially their game against Croatia. Cameroon lost all three group matches, including a 4-0 defeat by Croatia.

Off the pitch, it was again Suarez said he had time to reflect on his biting of an Italian defender.

"I ask for the forgiveness of Giorgio Chiellini and all the football family," he said, vowing it would never happen again.  Nevertheless, Uruguay's President Jose Mujica upped the ante over the saga, calling FIFA bosses "sons of bitches" for giving a "fascist" punishment of a four-month football ban to Suarez.

Controversy also swirled over another forward seldom out of the headlines, Dutchman Arjen Robben. All of Mexico was still fuming at Robben's tumble that earned a last-ditch penalty to put the Netherlands through on June 29.

Mexican fans excoriated and mocked him mercilessly on social media, some depicting an arm-flailing Robben leaping into the sea off rocks at a famous diving spot in Acapulco.

Robben, 30, fanned the controversy further by insisting the tackle from Mexican captain Rafael Marquez was a penalty, but confessing he had dived in another incident.

"In the first half I went to ground without being fouled, without being touched and that was a stupid action," he said. "I am an honest guy ... I apologise."