Respect to Algeria Though.

All these late nights are starting to take their toll so last night I opted to go to bed comparatively early rather then writing up the days games. Having found a bit of time today though I've decided that I can't let a day of really good football pass without comment.

The first game of the day between France and Nigeria was a really impressive battle between two sides playing open and attacking with the advantage constantly swinging backwards and forwards throughout the game. So Emmanuel Emenike thought he'd put Nigeria ahead in the 19th minute only for him to to ruled off-side in a very good refereeing call because his right leg and a bit of his chest were just off-side. In the 22nd minute France's Paul Pogba forced an impressive save from Vincent Enyeama - Nigeria's 'keeper.

This is how the match continued until Pogba finally made the break-through for France with a headed goal putting them 1-0 up in the 79th minute. Even then though Nigeria didn't look out of it until the 91st minute when an attempted clearance deflected off Nigeria's Joseph Yobo into his own net giving France a 2-0 win that really flattered them.

The second match though between Germany and Algeria was absolutely epic. Throughout this tournament Germany have used a pressing, possession style of football that mean they don't so much attack opponents as completely overwhelm them. Algeria though were having none of this a set about pressing Germany from the start meaning that Germany were never able to establish a rhythm. Within 9 minutes Algeria had already forced a save out of  Manuel Neuer - the German 'keeper - and after 10 minutes they had the ball in the back of the net only for it to be ruled off-side by a good foot or so.

While they were never able to take control of the match Germany did rally to put together good attacking spells off their own. Rais M'bolhi - Algeria's 'keeper - though had an answer for everything the Germans could throw at him producing match winning save after match winning save. Algeria continued to make chances of their own with Sofiane Feghouli in particular being nightmare on the right-wing producing darting run after darting run. However Algeria always seemed to lack the bit of magic needed to put the ball in the back of the net and kept falling foul of the off-side trap. As a result it was 0-0 after 90 minutes forcing 30 minutes of extra-time.

Just two minutes into that extra-time André Schürrle was finally able to get the better of M'bolhi with a cheeky left-heel shot that wrong-footed the 'keeper. Algeria kept pressing though until in the 119th minute the pressure of chasing the game meant that their defending let them down and Mesut Özil was left almost unmarked in the box and was able to score Germany's second after Schürrle was once again denied by M'bolhi. Algeria still refused to lay down and die though with that ball immediately going to Feghouli who put in an excellent long cross from the right-wing which found Abdelmoumene Djabou on the edge of box who volleyed home and impressive goal bring Algeria back to 2-1.

Despite having only 90 seconds on the clock Algeria kept pressing for that equaliser though. Unfortunately though there just wasn't enough time so Algeria lost 2-1 in one of the most honourable defeats seen at a World Cup.

Algeria's match was pretty much summed up by an incident in the 97th minute when Algeria's captain Rafik Halliche - almost doubled over with cramp - expertly won the ball in his own penalty area only to roll it out for a throw-in before collapsing to the ground because he simply had nothing more to give. So Algeria will now return home but I think they will do so to near universal acclaim.


13:05 on 1/7/14 (UK date).