2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 18 - LAST SIXTEEN - FRANCE vs NIGERIA 2:0
LAST SIXTEEN
30th June 2014
France vs Nigeria 2:0
GOALS
France: 2x
79' Paul Pogba (#19)
90+2' Joseph Yobo (#2) (ET)
Nigeria: 0x
France scored twice in the final 11 minutes in Brasilia to beat Nigeria and reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
Nigeria's Emmanuel Emenike had a strike ruled out for offside before Vincent Enyeama saved Paul Pogba's volley.
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Pogba header gives France the lead
Victor Moses cleared Karim Benzema's shot off the line after the break and Yohan Cabaye volleyed against the bar as France pressed.
But Pogba eventually headed in after an Enyeama error and Joseph Yobo diverted Mathieu Valbuena's cross into the net.
France will play the winners of Monday's late match between Algeria and Germany in the last eight at the Maracana on Friday.
The final scoreline was harsh on Nigeria, who dominated for large parts of the second half, but late mistakes from their tiring players ensured they will have to wait for their first quarter-final appearance in a World Cup.
"France got stronger after the obvious change of putting Karim Benzema through the middle.
The balance of the team was much better and he looked a different player.
Mathieu Valbuena was the best player on the pitch."
Nigeria's goalkeeper Enyeama made the most saves of any goalkeeper in the group phase and had to be alert again to keep out Pogba's fierce close-range volley as the play swept from end to end in a first half that saw both sides look vulnerable defensively.
Juventus's Pogba was being afforded a lot of space but, as was the case all over the pitch, the final ball was all too often wasteful, with Mathieu Debuchy's shot wide the only other notable attempt in a half that promised more than it delivered.
The African champions were forced into a change after the break when influential midfielder Ogenyi Onazi was injured by a late tackle from Blaise Matuidi, who was lucky to escape with only a yellow card.
France, the 2006 runners-up, did not make it past the group stage in South Africa four years ago but they appear to be much more united as a squad in this tournament.
That togetherness was needed as Nigeria controlled the opening stages of the second half and only a sharp stop from Hugo Lloris prevented Peter Odemwingie's low shot from giving the Africans the lead.
Against the run of play Benzema almost gave France the lead.
The Real Madrid man played a neat one-two with Antoine Griezmann before seeing his shot partially blocked by Enyeama and then hacked off the line by Moses.
The introduction of Griezmann for Olivier Giroud saw France emerge more as an attacking force, with Benzema playing more centrally, and the breakthrough came when Pogba headed into an empty net after Enyeama had misjudged Valbuena's corner.
And, as Nigeria pushed for a leveller, Joseph Yobo flicked Valbuena's low cross into his own net on the day he surpassed Jay-Jay Okocha's record of nine World Cup matches for the Super Eagles.
France midfielder Paul Pogba:
"I have no words to describe this feeling. The whole country is behind us and scoring that goal really liberated us. I am so happy for the team and all of France.
"To score a goal for your country, especially in such an important game as this, to get into the last eight of the World Cup is one of the best moments of my life."
France manager Didier Deschamps:
"We had a very strong last half an hour with more dynamism and more speed.
We had space to create chances and we could have scored quite a few times.
"I tried to create some more speed by bringing on Griezmann and we tried to exploit the space with short passes and it worked."
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi:
"I thought the referee made a lot of mistakes and was very lenient to the French players.
There was a very bad tackle on Ogenyi Onazi and he is probably out for weeks."
MATCH FACTS
France had never met Nigeria in the World Cup before
This was the first time two African nations (Nigeria & Algeria) had reached the World Cup knockout stage
Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama recorded the most saves of any goalkeeper in the group phase
All of France's goals during this World Cup have come from inside the penalty area
France are the first team to benefit from two own goals in the same World Cup
Karim Benzema has had 13 shots on target so far at this World Cup - more than any other player.
He has scored three goals
Nigeria have only won one of their last 12 World Cup matches, losing eight and drawing three
France manager Didier Deschamps is unbeaten in his 10 games at the World Cup as a player & manager.
Mathieu Valbuena completed 94% of his passes against Nigeria, the highest passing accuracy posted by any player in the match
LINEUP
France
01 Lloris
02 Debuchy
03 Evra
06 Cabaye
04 Varane
21 Koscielny
19 Pogba
14 Matuidi Booked
09 Giroud (Griezmann - 62' )
08 Valbuena (Sissoko - 94' )
10 Benzema
Substitutes
05 Sakho
07 Cabella
11 Griezmann
12 Mavuba
13 Mangala
15 Sagna
16 Ruffier
17 Digne
18 Sissoko
20 Remy
22 Schneiderlin
23 Landreau
Nigeria
01 Enyeama
05 Ambrose Emuobo
13 Oshaniwa
10 Mikel
02 Yobo
22 Omeruo
08 Odemwingie
17 Onazi (Gabriel - 59' )
09 Emenike
11 Moses (Nwofor - 89' )
07 Musa
Substitutes
03 Uzoenyi
04 Gabriel
06 Egwuekwe
12 Odunlami
14 Oboabona
15 Azeez
16 Ejide
19 Nwofor
20 Uchebo
21 Agbim
23 Ameobi
Ref: Mark Geiger
Att: 67,882
France
Nigeria