Final Scoreline for Match 57 (ROUND OF 8 #1):
FRANCE - 0
GERMANY - 1
(Hummels 13')
Entertaining game. Germany went ahead in the 13th minute through a serious defensive lapse by France and Hummels headed one in, and even though France tried their best to equalise all through the next half an hour, the score stayed 1-0 at half-time. The resumption of play saw a clear foul by Schweinsteiger in the box, which should have been awarded a penalty kick for France, but quite obviously the referee didn't spot it, despite the appeals by all French players. Schweinsteiger was involved in quite a few unnecessary body tackles, and got away with just a yellow card.
Attacking substitutions in the second half didn't help their cause much either, and even with Remy and Giroud on the field, they couldn't find the equaliser till the end of added time between them and Benzema, whose last ditch effort in the final minute was handed out by Neuer, the German keeper, who made 2 great saves to keep France out.
Germany go through to the Semi-Finals yet again, their 4th advance in the last 4 World Cups. France bow out, but with their heads held high. They gave it their best shot, but came up short in the end.