Germany hold off plucky Algeria for quarterfinal place

                            Germany needed extra time to hold off a valiant and determined Algerian team who can now go back home with their heads held high after a plucky display against the former three-time winners.

        Germany and Algeria squared off in their round of 16 fixture today 30/06/2014 in the second match with a quarterfinal place at stake. The winner of this encounter would have a meeting with the French on Friday. The French had earlier gotten the better of the Nigerians. The last time Germany and Algeria met at the World Cup was in 1982. On that occasion it was the Algerians who stunned the European Powerhouse with a 2-1 victory at the El Molinon Stadium in Gijon, Spain. So the Germans were out for revenge, The Algerians were Africa’s last remaining hope for a quarterfinal place at this year’s World Cup following the Nigerians’ exit. So a lot was on the line. Amazingly it was the Algerians who had the first chance of the game as Slimani found himself behind the German defense and forced Manuel Neuer in the German goal to come a long way off his line to avert the danger and Germany escaped. Germany would soon reply with an effort of their own though, as a long range shot from Schweinsteiger in the 14^th minute forced Mbolhi in the Algerian goal to make a save. Algeria would then have the ball in the back of the German net as Slimani would latch on to a long pass with a great header which beat Neuer but it was disallowed for offside. It would be the Algerians who would put the Germans under pressure on a couple of occasions as Neuer was forced to come off his line to stop goal scoring opportunities with some timely clearances. In the 31^st minute Algeria won a free kick after a challenge from Gotze, but Feghouli’s effort was too high and Germany survived. Four minutes later a header from Muller after a great ball from Mustafi went just wide and the game remained scoreless. That was the way it would stay at the half.

            

          At the resumption Germany made a change as Schurrle replaced Gotze in an effort to get the important opening goal of the game. Algeria soon won a corner but couldn’t capitalize. The Germans would soon win one of their own and but the North Africans repelled the danger and the score remained 0-0. In the 54^th minute a brilliant strike from Lahm was well saved by Mbolhi and another German opportunity was foiled. The Germans would continue to dominate possession and force successive corners, but couldn’t take advantage of their chances. In the 68^th minute Germany made a substitution as Khedira replaced Mustafi. It would be Slimani’s pace which would give the German defense pressure once again as Neuer was forced off his line one more time to make another timely clearance. Slimani would then test Neuer from distance but the German custodian was equal to the task. In the 76^th Algeria would make their first change as Taider was replaced with Brahimi in the 78^th minute. Germany would then squander a good opportunity to take the lead as a header from Schweinsteiger went just off target. Mbolhi would then come to the Algerian aid in the 80^th minute as he blocked a great effort off the head of Muller. Germany would continue to apply the pressure as they won a corner in the 84^th minute. They would then be awarded a free kick after a Feghouli hand ball, but the ensuing effort was wasted. Neuer would again come far off his line to deny Algeria once more. At the end of 90 minutes neither team could be separated, so it was now onto extra time.

                  

                 In the first period of extra time, a great ball played into the Algerian penalty area by Muller found Schurrle who made no mistake. 1-0 Germany. Algeria would then make a substitution as Bouguerra replaced Halliche in the 97^th minute. Soudani would then be replaced by Djabou in the 100^th minute. At the end of the first fifteen minute period Germany would still have the lead. Lahm would soon find himself in the referee’s book for pulling down Brahimi.  The ensuing free kick would give Neuer some problems but Germany was able to survive. Germany would then get the insurance goal as a counter-attack from the Europeans following an Algerian play was scored by Oezil.  Algeria would then give themselves a slight glimmer of hope as Djabou would soon connect with a great cross to narrow the German lead. It was case of too little, too late for the North Africans though, as Germany hung on for a place in the quarterfinals and a meeting with the French.

Ticos book quarterfinal showdown with Dutch

                Costa Rica earned the right to face the Netherlands in the quarterfinals following a dramatic 5-3  penalty shootout victory over Greece in the first World Cup meeting between the two teams. Costa Rica faced off with Greece in the fourth game of the round of 16 today 29/06/2014 at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife for the right to play the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. The Dutch had done their part earlier in the day as they survived a scare against a tough Mexican team to prevail 2-1 with two late goals from Sneijder and Huntelaar. The Costa Ricans were playing in the second stage of the competition for the first time since they had previously done so back at the 1990 World Cup. For the Greeks however, this was the first time that they had reached this far at a World Cup, having failed to get out of the group stages in their previous appearances in 1994 and 2010. It was the Greeks who had the first chance of the game as a shot from Lazaros following a free kick from Karagounis went too high. A few minutes later Gamboa of Costa Rica found space on the right but his effort was just wide. 

                 In the 14^th minute the Greeks won a corner which was taken by Karagounis, but the Europeans couldn’t take advantage and the score remained at 0-0. The Costa Ricans would then have a corner of their own but Karagounis would bring down Campbell in the area and the Central Americans won a free kick. The diving header from Borges following the set play would go just wide though. In the 28^th minute a long range effort from Karagounis following a great build up in the Costa Rican half was well saved by Navas in the Costa Rican goal. In the 36^th minute Samaris became the first player in the referee’s book following a challenge on Campbell. Moments later the Costa Rican goalkeeper Navas had to come to his team’s aid again to stop an attempt from Salpingidis with his right leg as the ball went behind for a corner. The Greeks unfortunately couldn’t take advantage. In the 42^nd minute Duarte of Costa Rica was booked following a challenge on Lazaros. The ensuing free kick was well read by Navas who had no problems catching it. There was not much action after this as both teams went in at the interval with the scores tied at 0-0.

                 At the resumption the Greeks won an early free kick in the Costa Rican half but Samaras' header following the initial shot was well caught by Navas. In the 48^th minute Tejeda would find himself in the referee’s book following a challenge on Karagounis. Soon though, it would be the Costa Ricans who took the lead as  Campbell played a ball to Bolanos who cut inside to find Ruiz whose shot trickled past the stunned Greek goalkeeper Karzenis who remained firmly planted on his feet as the ball hit the back of the net. 1-0 Costa Rica. In the 58^th the Greeks made a substitution as Mitroglou replaced Samaris. The Costa Ricans would soon follow suit as Tejeda was replaced by Cubero. Costa Rica would soon find themselves a man down though as Duarte was expelled from the match after receiving his second yellow card following a terrible challenge on a Chovelas.  Another Greek substitution followed as Gekas replaced Salpingidis in the 69th minute. Manolas of Greece would then be booked by the referee after a poor challenge on Campbell. Unfortunately the Costa Ricans couldn’t capitalize on the ensuing free kick opportunity.

                Another Costa Rican substitution would follow as Acosta replaced Gamboa in the 77^th minute. The Greeks would then replace Maniatis with Katsouranis in an effort to revive their fleeting World Cup fortunes. In the 82^nd minute the Greeks won a free kick but Manolas’ header following Cholevas’ delivery went over the bar. Costa Rica would then make another substitution in the 83^rd as Brenes replaced Bolanos.  In the 90^th minute Costa Rican goalie Navas would get booked for time wasting as the Greeks tried to come back in the game. The Greeks however would soon be on level terms as Sokritis would give the Europeans a lifeline with a stoppage time goal following a save from the initial shot from Gekas. At the end of regulation time the score was 1-1 and the game was now headed for extra time.

                  It was the Greeks started more promising against the ten-man Costa Ricans at the start of extra time as they dominated the ball-possession and did more of the attacking. They would win a corner in the 96^th minute but the effort was wasted and the Costa Ricans hung on. The Greeks would soon win a free kick following a challenge on Samaras. The ensuing effort was wasted though as the Costa Rican defense put it out for a corner. The opportunity was squandered as Mitroglou committed a foul. At the end of the first 15 minute period the score was still tied at 1-1. In the second period, a promising Greek build up was quickly foiled by Navas as the Costa Rican custodian kept his team in the game with a timely save. Costa Rica would then win a free kick in the 110^th minute but Gonzalez’s acrobatic effort went off target. Five minutes later a potentially dangerous cross from the Greeks was well held by Navas. A Greek corner soon followed but the opportunity was wasted. Navas would then come to the Costa Rican aid in the 119^th minute to deny Mitroglou from close range. At the end of extra time the teams couldn’t be separated so it was now down to penalties. Borges was up first for the Costa Ricans and he brilliantly struck his spot kick to put his team 1-0 upin the shootout. Mitroglou would soon level the scores for the Greeks. Ruiz would then make it 2-1 for Costa Rica but Lazarus would make it 2-2. Gonzalez would then put the Costa Ricans 3-2 in front. Holevas would then put the Greeks level with his attempt. Joel Campbell would then make it 4-3 for Costa Rica. Gekas would then have his effort blocked by Navas. It was then left to Umana to convert his kick and the number four made no mistake as the Ticos booked a quarterfinal showdown with the Dutch on Friday.

Brazil outlasts Chile in penalty shootout drama

              Brazil survived a late scare as Chile rattled their cross bar deep into extra time and the hosts went on to hold their nerves to prevail 3-2 in a penalty shootout to advance to the quarterfinals of this year's World Cup.

Round of 16 action at this year’s World Cup kicked off in Belo Horizonte today 28/06/2014 with hosts Brazil locking horns with South American neighbor Chile with a place in the quarterfinals at stake. It was Brazil who got the better of the Chileans the last two times the CONMEBOL teams clashed in the World Cup in the round of 16. The five times former Champions won 4-1 and 3-0 at France 1998 and South Africa 2010 respectively. Playing at home too, they had a slight advantage. That said however, any team which can knockout the Defending Champions in Spain like the Chileans did in their second group game, couldn’t be taken lightly. In the 3^rd minute the Chileans won a free kick following a challenge by Fred on Silva but the ensuing effort was wasted and the Brazilians escaped. Brazil would then win a corner in the 5^th minute but Marcelo, eager to atone for his own goal in the opener with Croatia, blasted his effort high and wide. In the 13^th minute Brazil thought they had a penalty when Hulk went down in the Chilean area but the decision was not given. Minutes later Neymar would squander a free kick opportunity but Bravo in the Chilean goal was equal to the task. There was plenty of action in the early stages of the match as Brazil constantly found themselves in the Chilean half. All the Brazilian pressure would soon pay off though, as a corner from Neymar in the 18^th minute forced Chilean Gonzalo Jara to hit the ball onto David Luiz who deflected it into the Chilean goal. 1-0 Brazil. 

In the 26^th minute Brazil had a chance to double their lead as a promising play from Neymar, who picked up the ball from half-line. His ensuing shot was wide though. Brazil would soon rue that opportunity however as a mix-up in the Brazilian defense from their own throw-in enabled Sanchez to work a ball inside and compose himself  before hitting a side-footed effort past Julio Cesar and bring Chile on level terms. In the 42^nd minute Brazil had a chance to regain the lead as a long-range strike from Dani Alves was brilliantly tipped over the bar. Chile then won a corner just before halftime but the Brazilian defense cleared it away. Another Chilean corner was wasted and at the half both teams went in at 1-1.  At the resumption Chile would win an early free kick in the Brazilian half as David Luiz brought down Vidal. The ensuing free kick from Diaz was punched away by Cesar in the Brazilian goal and the Brazilian defense survived. A long range strike from Fernandinho for Brazil soon after would go just wide as he slipped slightly before making the shot and the Chileans dodged a bullet. Hulk thought that he had restored Brazil’s lead in the 55^th minute but his goal was ruled out as he was judged to have controlled the ball with his hand. He would then receive a yellow card. 

In the 72^nd minute Brazil would make a change as Ramires replaced Fernandinho in an effort to restore the Brazilian lead. Two minutes later a great Brazilian opportunity was squandered as Jo couldn’t connect with Hulk’s cross.  In the end neither teams could be separated so the game went to extra time. At the start of extra time Brazil won a free kick as Hulk was brought down in the Chilean half. Neymar’s ensuing free kick was then cleared away. In the 105^th minute Chile won a free kick of their own as a Dani Alves foul enabled the Andean team the opportunity to snatch a lead. Dani Alves would draw a yellow card. Alexis would however squander the opportunity to give his team the advantage. At the end of the first extra time period, the score was still 1-1. At the start of the second period Chile made a substitution as Jose Roca replaced Gary Medel.  In the 121^st minute Chile almost broke Brazilian hearts as Pinilla rattled  Cesar’s crossbar. In the end the teams couldn’t be separated and the game went to penalties.

David Luiz was up first for Brazil and quickly sent the hosts in front. 1-0 Brazil. Julio Cesar would then save Pinilla’s effort to preserve the Brazilians’ lead. More drama was to come as Wilian shot wide and the score still remained at 1-0. Chile couldn’t take advantage though as Cesar stopped Alexis’ effort. Brazil then increased their lead as Marcelo put his shot past Bravo despite the Chilean custodian getting a hand to the ball. 2-0 Brazil.  Aranguiz would then offer Chile a glimmer of hope as he finally put his team on the scoreboard in the shootout. Hulk would then give Brazilian fans a scare as his attempt was blocked by Bravo. Chile would then level the scores as Diaz would make it 2-2.  Up stepped  Neymar with his attempt and he made no mistake in sending Brazil 3-2 in front. All the pressure was now on the Chileans as Jara was up next to take the decisive penalty. Unfortunately the Chile number 18 couldn’t rise to the occasion as he saw his shot cannon off the post and back out sparking wild Brazilian celebrations as the hosts became the first team in the quarterfinals.