It was not as comfortable as the scoreline suggests but France,
inspired by a substitution that changed the complexion of the game,
eventually broke Nigeria’s resistance to secure a place in the
quarter-finals of the World Cup. It took 79 minutes for a goal to arrive
and it felt desperately cruel that the otherwise outstanding Vincent
Enyeama should be the man who gifted France the lead. Paul Pogba took
full advantage and Joseph Yobo’s late own goal sealed Nigeria’s fate.
For the first hour there had been nothing to choose between the two teams but the introduction of Antoine Griezmann for the anonymous Olivier Giroud gave France the impetus to take the game to Nigeria. With Karim Benzema now taking up a central striking role, France looked a totally different proposition and laid siege to the Nigeria goal.
Enyeama made two superb saves to thwart Benzema and Yohan Cabaye was denied by the woodwork but eventually the breakthrough came. Coming for a corner that he had no chance of getting, Enyeama flapped at the ball and Pogba had the simple task of heading into the guarding net. Yobo, under pressure from Griezmann, then put through his own net. The game was up for Nigeria.
France quickly knew that they had a match on their hands here. Snapping into tackles and dangerous whenever they broke forward, Nigeria proved to be awkward opponents and came within inches of taking an early lead. Ahmed Musa swept a low in-swinging cross towards the near post and Emmanuel Emenike, slipping away from Laurent Koscielny, neatly converted. The stadium erupted – there was no doubt which team the locals were supporting – but the raised flag of the assistant referee on the far side cut the celebrations short. It was incredibly tight but, as television replays showed, a good call by the official.
Moments later France had their best chance of the first half. Pogba set off on one of those marauding runs where his long legs seems to eat up the ground. A neat pass released Mathieu Valbuena on the France right and Pogba continued his sprint to accept the return, timing his arrival in the penalty area perfectly to strike a first-time volley from 12 yards that Enyeama repelled with two hands. It was decent save but one that a goalkeeper of Enyeama’s class would expect to make.
With Ogenyi Onazi breaking up play and Musa, Emenike and Peter Odemwingie all lively going forward, France were unable to control the game in the first half and there were signs of frustration. Giroud, who had shot wildly over in the 15th minute, was lucky that the referee took a lenient view of an elbow lazily thrown in the direction of Mikel John Obi.
Blaise Matuidi, who is something of an unsung hero in this France team, seemed the most likely player to make something happen for Les Bleus in the opening 45 minutes. It was one of the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder’s driving runs that led to Mathieu Debuchy thrashing wide, following a neat lay off from Valbuena. At the other end Emenike’s ambitious angled drive, from wide on the right, was beaten away by Hugo Lloris, with Victor Moses unable to make the most of the loose ball.
Matuidi was booked early in the second half and he could have no complaints after he caught Onazi late, his studs raking down the inside of the Nigerian’s ankle and ending the midfielder’s involvement. Deschamps also made a change and it was no surprise that Giroud was the player withdrawn.
With Griezmann coming on, Benzema was liberated and France almost got instant reward. Benzema swapped passes with Griezmann on the edge of the area, a lovely exchange that sliced Nigeria open, but his attempts to slide the ball home were smothered by Enyeama. It still looked like the ball might loop in but Moses got back to clear.
The momentum was now firmly with France. Benzema, expertly peeling away at the far post, flashed an angled shot that Mikel half-cleared. Cabaye, waiting on the edge of the area, thumped the ball back, his shot cannoning off the crossbar.
Nigeria were unable to stem the tide. Valbuena’s free-kick was met by a thumping Benzema header that Enyeama turned over the bar and from the corner that followed Enyeama made his blunder. Pogba headed home and any hopes Nigeria had of getting back into the game were extinguished when Yobo put through his own net in added time.
For the first hour there had been nothing to choose between the two teams but the introduction of Antoine Griezmann for the anonymous Olivier Giroud gave France the impetus to take the game to Nigeria. With Karim Benzema now taking up a central striking role, France looked a totally different proposition and laid siege to the Nigeria goal.
Enyeama made two superb saves to thwart Benzema and Yohan Cabaye was denied by the woodwork but eventually the breakthrough came. Coming for a corner that he had no chance of getting, Enyeama flapped at the ball and Pogba had the simple task of heading into the guarding net. Yobo, under pressure from Griezmann, then put through his own net. The game was up for Nigeria.
France quickly knew that they had a match on their hands here. Snapping into tackles and dangerous whenever they broke forward, Nigeria proved to be awkward opponents and came within inches of taking an early lead. Ahmed Musa swept a low in-swinging cross towards the near post and Emmanuel Emenike, slipping away from Laurent Koscielny, neatly converted. The stadium erupted – there was no doubt which team the locals were supporting – but the raised flag of the assistant referee on the far side cut the celebrations short. It was incredibly tight but, as television replays showed, a good call by the official.
Moments later France had their best chance of the first half. Pogba set off on one of those marauding runs where his long legs seems to eat up the ground. A neat pass released Mathieu Valbuena on the France right and Pogba continued his sprint to accept the return, timing his arrival in the penalty area perfectly to strike a first-time volley from 12 yards that Enyeama repelled with two hands. It was decent save but one that a goalkeeper of Enyeama’s class would expect to make.
With Ogenyi Onazi breaking up play and Musa, Emenike and Peter Odemwingie all lively going forward, France were unable to control the game in the first half and there were signs of frustration. Giroud, who had shot wildly over in the 15th minute, was lucky that the referee took a lenient view of an elbow lazily thrown in the direction of Mikel John Obi.
Blaise Matuidi, who is something of an unsung hero in this France team, seemed the most likely player to make something happen for Les Bleus in the opening 45 minutes. It was one of the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder’s driving runs that led to Mathieu Debuchy thrashing wide, following a neat lay off from Valbuena. At the other end Emenike’s ambitious angled drive, from wide on the right, was beaten away by Hugo Lloris, with Victor Moses unable to make the most of the loose ball.
Matuidi was booked early in the second half and he could have no complaints after he caught Onazi late, his studs raking down the inside of the Nigerian’s ankle and ending the midfielder’s involvement. Deschamps also made a change and it was no surprise that Giroud was the player withdrawn.
With Griezmann coming on, Benzema was liberated and France almost got instant reward. Benzema swapped passes with Griezmann on the edge of the area, a lovely exchange that sliced Nigeria open, but his attempts to slide the ball home were smothered by Enyeama. It still looked like the ball might loop in but Moses got back to clear.
The momentum was now firmly with France. Benzema, expertly peeling away at the far post, flashed an angled shot that Mikel half-cleared. Cabaye, waiting on the edge of the area, thumped the ball back, his shot cannoning off the crossbar.
Nigeria were unable to stem the tide. Valbuena’s free-kick was met by a thumping Benzema header that Enyeama turned over the bar and from the corner that followed Enyeama made his blunder. Pogba headed home and any hopes Nigeria had of getting back into the game were extinguished when Yobo put through his own net in added time.
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