Germany creep over the line against Algeria

Photo: Germany celebrate the opener against Algeria. (Getty Images)

One of the hot favourites to lift the World Cup, Germany, was given a serious examination by an inspired Algeria team but came away with a 2-1 victory in their round of 16 game . The injury problems that has hit Joachim Low’s team finally took a toll on Die Mannschafft. Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski were ruled out of the clash and with Bastian Schwiensteiger and Sami Khedira not fully fit forcing Germany had to grind out the victory in extra-time.

Algeria flew out of the blocks hitting a slow German back four on the counter with the pace of Islam Slimani, Sofiane Feghouli and El Arabi Soudani. Slimani got in behind the defense on just 9 minutes from a Faouzi Ghoulam pass but Manuel Neuer came off his line quickly to deny him a free run at goal. Slimani hit the back of the net on 17 minutes again from a beautiful Ghoulam cross but was correctly judged offside. Germany was dominating possession but Algeria was looking very dangerous on the counter.

Neuer was forced off his line again on 29 minutes when Slimani and Soudani had the pace to get pass Per Mertesacker but again the Bayern Munich stopper cleared the danger. Thomas Muller came close on 35 minutes when Shkodran Mustafi picked him out with a cross but he headed wide of the target. It was a typical Germany move keeping possession in midfield and then spreading the ball wide. Mehdi Mostefa was unlucky to see his stinging drive from just outside the penalty area blocked by Jerome Boateng. His effort could have deflected into the goal but it went for a corner on 41 minutes.

A minute later Rais M’Bohli made a brilliant double save to deny Mario Gotze then he was quick enough to block Muller’s effort for a corner. Just before half time, Toni Kroos went close when he had an effort from outside the penalty area that went just wide and the half ended goalless.

Andre Schurrle replaced Gotze at half time and made an instant impact. His pace took him one-on-one with M’Bohli on 49 minutes but the CSKA Sofia stopper used his legs to keep out the Chelsea man. Mustafi got a chance on 50 minutes from the resulting corner but his header went straight down M’Bohli’s throat. Algeria had a 4-on-3 counter on 53 minutes but Philipp Lahm did well to block Slimani’s cross with two Algerians free in the penalty area.

Germany slowly took control of the game and had Algeria under immense pressure as the game wore on, but could not capitalize on their dominance. The pace and width provided by Schurrle was a threat allowing Schwiensteiger and company more time and space in the middle. Schweinsteiger almost broke the deadlock in the 80th minute but his header went wide from Schurrle’s cross down the right. The substitutes on the German bench were all up on their feet thinking he had found the far corner of the net.

Muller should have scored two minutes later from Khedira’s cross as he was free and unchallenged but his header was too close to M’Bohli who made the save. The rebound fell to Schurrle but his effort was cleared by Mostefa on the goal line. Neuer then came off his line on 90 minutes to clear the danger as Slimani was looking to run in behind again. It was scoreless at full time and extra time was needed.

Germany took the lead just 2 minutes into extra time through Schurrle. Muller got past two defender and crossed from the left and Schurrle managed to bundle the ball beyong M’Bohli. Germany settled and started to dominate the game, keeping possession and retaining the ball quickly when they lost it. On 96 minutes, Mesut Ozil broke away down the left where he had time and space. He tried to cut inside the defender but lost the ball and a great chance for Germany.

Mostefa almost leveled for Algeria on 102 minutes when Khedira made a mess of his clearance but the shot from from the Algerian went inches wide of the target. In the second half of extra time Germany dominated proceedings and was standing firm to the counter from Les Fennecs. The dominance paid off when Ozil found the back of the net after some lovely slick passing. He got past one defender then passed to Schurrle whose shot was cleared off the line. Ozil then rifled home the rebound into the net to make it 2-0.

Algeria pulled one back in the 121st minute when Feghouli’s cross was met by substitute Abdelmoumene Djabou who slotted his shot passed Neuer. It was too late for Algeria as the match ended almost immediately after the restart. It was a wonderful performance from Les Fennecs but the quality and class of Germany came through.

Germany will next face the French who would have seen all their weaknesses exposed by the Algerians.