A late Paul Pogba
header and an own goal from Joseph Yobo saw France to a 2-0 win over Nigeria
and a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Didier Deschamps’
side created the better of the chances throughout an evenly-matched encounter
and were able to flex their international muscles when required to get over the
line.
Nigeria had more
than held their own up until the 79th minute when an error of judgement from
goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama saw him flap at a set-piece and allow the ball to
drop kindly for Pogba to nod into an empty net.
Paul Pogba: Put France on their way
France then put the
result beyond doubt in the first minute of stoppage-time when the lively
Mathieu Valbuena wriggled away from a short corner and saw his low cross turned
into his own net by an unfortunate Yobo, who was more concerned with preventing
Antoine Griezmann from getting a touch.
Les Bleus will now
face Germany in the last eight, while Nigeria are still waiting to grace that
particular stage for the first time.
For much of the
match, Nigeria keeper Enyeama - who plays his club football in France for Lille
- had defied the French but it was his unfortunate blunder that allowed Pogba,
the former Manchester United youth player who has made his name at Juventus,
the chance to tip the contest in favour of his side.
Until then, Enyeama
had been heroic - not least with a brilliant reaction save after Valbuena had
set up Pogba for a powerfully-struck volley.
With Enyeama in
such form, Deschamps' France side could not afford to be wasteful and
Valbuena's promptings in midfield looked the best avenue for attack. It was the
Marseille midfielder who conjured a neat lay-off into Mathieu Debuchy's path
only for the Newcastle full-back to send his drive wide when a goal looked
odds-on.
Joseph Yobo: Put through his own net
Valbuena's fast
feet then saw France open up the Nigerians again but Olivier Giroud's shot on
the turn was disappointing.
It was not one-way
traffic, however, and Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny had to be smart to
block out Peter Odemwingie when the Stoke striker threatened.
Blaise Matuidi then
crunched Odemwingie and from a promising position Emmanuel Emenike blasted the free-kick
high and wide. Nigeria's Fenerbahce striker then did get the ball in the net
with a great finish but was flagged for offside.
Emenike's power
posed a threat to the French and he stung the hands of Hugo Lloris with a
fizzing shot from 25 yards.
As the game entered
the final phase, France began to exert control, perhaps aided by Lazio
midfielder Ogenyi Onazi departing on a stretcher after a nasty late challenge
by Blaise Matuidi, who was booked.
It had been a
fairly miserable game for Giroud, who had not clicked at all with Karim
Benzema, and he came off just after an hour for Griezmann.
Victor Moses: Nigeria down and out
The change had an
immediate impact. Benzema's one-two with Griezmann on the edge of the box came
off perfectly but Enyeama managed to take the pace out of the Real Madrid
striker's shot and Victor Moses hooked it clear off the line.
France continued to
press and Benzema's cross-shot was scooped clear before Yohan Cabaye came as
close as anyone had to scoring when his 20-yard strike crashed back off the
crossbar.
Finally, France
made the breakthrough and it was hugely unfortunate for Enyeama that having
been so impressive, it was his flap at Valbuena's corner that saw the ball drop
nicely for Pogba to direct a header into the unguarded net.
Enyeama made up for
it with another fabulous stop to keep out Griezmann's fiercely-struck effort
but France were not to be denied and Griezmann's step-over from Valbuena's
cross saw the ball hit the unfortunate Yobo on the shin - who had broken
Nigeria's World Cup appearance record - and roll into the net.
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