France beat Nigeria 2-0 to reach World Cup quarter-finals

Michael Rossmann, dpa

A late strike by Paul Pogba and an own goal by Joseph Yobo gave France a 2-0 victory over Nigeria on Monday and a berth in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Pogba outjumped the Nigerian defence to head home a 79th minute corner that denied Nigeria a first-ever quarter-final appearance. Yobo bundled the ball into his own net as he attempted to clear in injury time.

France now face the winner of the day's later last 16 tie between Germany and Algeria in Porto Alegre.

Both teams played fast, attractive football, but the French showed their domination in the later stages, hitting the crossbar and having more of the chances.

French coach Didier Deschamps recalled Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud to the starting lineup, pairing him with Karim Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena in attack.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi made one change from the team which lost 3-2 to Argentina in their final group game, calling up Liverpool midfielder Victor Moses for the injured Michael Babatunde.

Nigeria went into the game against the 1998 World Cup champions as underdogs, but their first-half performance was as good as that of France, who were let down by a lack of precision in their passing.

Giroud had France's first scoring chance, but blasted the ball high over the bar after latching on to a Benzema cross from edge of area.

Nigeria's midfield was constantly seeking out Emmanuel Emenike with long balls down the middle and the tactic appeared to pay off for the Super Eagles when the striker pounced on a poor clearance and fired into the net, only to have the goal disallowed for offside.

Minutes later Nigerian keeper Vincent Enyeama saved brilliantly from a right-foot volley by Pogba after some good work by Valbuena, at 1.67 metres, the smallest man on the pitch.

France did manage to string together a series of passes towards the end of the half, but Mathieu Debuchy failed to connect properly with the ball and his shot went wide.

Deschamps had formed a new-look squad that has gone a long way to making amends for the fiasco of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa when France went out in the group stage after a players' rebellion.

France breezed through first round in Brazil in impressive style as the third highest scoring side, but the chemistry between Benzema and Giroud did not function as well this time. Deschamps reacted in the 62nd minute and brought on Antoine Griezmann for Giroud.

A few minutes earlier, French nerves showed when Blaise Matuidi was booked for a late tackle on midfielder Ogenyi Onazi, who was stretchered off and had to be substituted.

Stokee City's Peter Odemwingie tested Hugo Lloris with a low shot that bounced off the French keeper's body and minutes later Laurent Koscielny made a last-minute clearance near the goal-line.

France had a good chance to take the lead on 70 minutes when Benzema was put through by Griezmann, but the striker fired directly at the goalkeeper and the ball bounced towards the line before being cleared by Moses.

The introduction of Griezmann revitalized the French attack. Yohann Cabayae slammed against the crossbar on 76 minutes and a header by Benzema was turned over the bar by the Nigerian keeper.

Minutes later Pogba jumped up to head the winner after the unlucky Eneyama parried a corner across the goal area.

In injury time Yobo attempted to clear from Griezmann, but the ball bounced off his legs into the goal, ending the Nigerian dream in Brazil.