RIO DE JANEIRO // Germany booked a place in the semi-finals of the World Cup for a fourth successive tournament with a narrow 1-0 win over European rivals France.
Joachim Loew, the German coach, then warned that with his players improving together and early afternoon kickoffs no longer an issue, his team are only likely to get better.
Kicking off at 1pm in the famous Estadio Maracana, under a searing sun that at times seemed to produce lethargic performances by both sides, Germany scored a 12th-minute goal through defender Mats Hummels and were able to play a more relaxed, counter-attack-based game.
Click here to visit The National’s World Cup 2014 landing page
“It is certainly not easy for us Europeans to start playing at 1pm,” Loew said.
“On the pitch and in the sun it was extremely hot. You can hardly breathe here. It is not easy because we are not used to that.
“We tried to control the match and keep the players at peak level, but three or four fast sprints and the players get tired. It makes it difficult.
“The next match will be at 5pm, so the sun will be lower and not heat up the stadium in the same way, which will help us.”
Loew had dropped Per Mertesacker in favour of the fit-again Hummels in a bid to avoid falling victim to France’s pace, which had been turbo-boosted further by the return of Antoine Griezmann.
Yet it was Hummels’s attacking abilities that proved the difference.
The Borussia Dortmund defender outmuscled Raphael Varane far too easily to get on the end of Toni Kroos’s free kick and his glanced header went into the net off the underside of the crossbar, leaving Hugo Lloris helpless in the French goal.
“We are playing the kind of football that gives us the chance to win matches, but our defensive attitude is what people have been questioning,” Hummels said.
“You cannot always score two more than the other team. But we have the passion and desire and it intensifies with every match.”
France pushed for an equaliser in the second half, without every really working a clear opening.
Hummels and Manuel Neuer in the German goal repeatedly showing self-assurance to thwart any French attacks.
“It’s a tough job,” Hummels said. “We had moments when we could play nicely, but there are moments when you have to fight.
“We knew France are one of the top teams, so it was not a walk in the park. It was not perfect, but it was pretty good and we deserved to go on.
“If we can carry on like this, a few better things could yet play out.”
France coach Didier Deschamps admitted his disappointment, but was keen to stress the positives.
“We know that experience is important,” he said.
“Germany have played together for many years, but I am proud.
“We have showed promise, now we must keep up the quality of the team. The players are disappointed and frustrated. I cannot get away from that because I feel the same way.
“We wanted to go further, we wanted to reach the semi-finals, but I don’t think there was a huge gap between the two teams.”
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE
