France dispatched African champions Nigeria 2-0 in stifling heat in the world cup second round game at the Estadio Nacionale in Brasilia.
The first of two Europe vs. Africa challenges was pretty evenly matched for much of the first half, before Nigeria dominated the early part of the second but failure to convert their chances led to their eventual defeat.
Midfielder Paul Pogba’s header in the 79th minute gave France the lead, before a Joseph Yobo own goal sealed Nigeria’s fate just on the 90th minute mark.
The first half was a closely matched affair, with both keepers forced into terrific saves to keep their side in the game.
Nigeria’s Emmanuel Emenike had a goal disallowed for offside in the 18th minute, tapping in after a great cross from Ahmed Musa. Replays showed he was fractionally offside.
The game started at a dull pace, both sides uninterested in expending too much energy under the midday Brazilian sun. With both sides fielding dangerous wingers, the game was mostly played out wide.
Patrice Evra got away cleanly down the left flank in the 4th minute, but his low cross could not reach Giroud in the middle as Joseph Yobo cut it out for a corner.
The game dissolved into lots of midfield action with little going forward. A cross over the top to Odemwingie nearly reached him, but he failed to properly control it. The Stoke City forward was involved again as Nigeria carved another half chance in the 14th minute, but his cross was a little too high, and the header back in from Mikel was weak, easily saved by Hugo Illoris.
Immediately at the other end France had a quick counter attack, but Giroud’s shot was wayward after a cutback from Benzema.
The best chance of the half fell to Paul Pogba, whose sweetly struck volley drew an equally impressive save out of Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.
France had another equally dangerous chance in the 39th minute, but Debuchy’s volley whistled wide after good work down the right from Valbuena to set up the right back.
The final chance of note in the half fell to Emmanuel Emenike, whose shot from distance was punched clear by Illoris.
Nigeria was almost made to pay for over-elaboration early in the 2nd half, as Odemwingie kept too long on the ball and was dispossessed by Giroud, but the Arsenal forward’s cross was too strong and no contact was made.
France could barely string two passes together, and for a while Nigeria built up a good stream of pressure, creating several chances in the process.
Emmanuel Emenike got the ball down the left wing and unleashed a thunderbolt that went narrowly wide. Osaze Odemwingie then had his chance on the opposite flank, cutting in and shooting on his weaker foot, the goal only denied by Hugo Illoris’ sharp reflexes.
For all their dominance it was France who came closest to scoring, a one-two involving Griezman and Benzema setting the Real Madrid forward free, but his shot struck the legs of Enyeama, slowing it down enough to be cleared off the line by Victor Moses.
Griezman’s presence as a 62nd minute substitute coincided with a spell of dominance for France which finally culminated with them taking the lead in the 79th minute.
First Griezman’s dangerous cross had to be punched away by Enyeama, then a quick double chance. Another Benzema shot was cleared off the line, before Cabaye’s powerful follow-up struck the cross bar. A Karem Benzema connection to a Valbuena free-kick was punched over the bar by Enyeama who seemed to be having the game of his life- until his error led to the French first goal.
He rushed off his line to clear a corner, but his touch was weak, leaving an unmarked Paul Pogba to head into an empty net.
Having been on the back-foot for so long, the Super Eagles could not recover from the setback, and it continued to be all France until the 90th minute when the final nail was hammered into Nigeria’s green coffin.
A short corner caught the Nigerian defence unaware, and Valbuena raced towards the box before sending in a cross that went in through a combination of Griezman and Yobo, though it was officially granted as an own goal by the defender.
The final whistle came not long after, sending Les Bleus through, knocking out the African champions and leaving the continent’s hope hanging by a thread.