World Cup

[monks data]

Attendance: 74,240

World Cup | Quarter-Finals

Jul 4, 2014 at 5pm UK

France
0-1
Germany

FT(HT: 0-1)

Hummels (13')

Mats Hummels heads Germany into semi-finals

By Shane Callaghan, Reporter

Published: July 4 2014 | 18:54

Last updated: July 4 2014 | 19:40

Mats Hummels heads Germany into the semi-finals of the World Cup after beating France 1-0 at the Maracana.

Germany have sealed their progression into the semi-finals of the World Cup after Mats Hummels's first-half header was enough to down France in the Maracana this evening.

Germany's defender Mats Hummels celebrates his goal during a quarter-final football match between France and Germany at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on July 4, 2014 © Getty Images

The Borussia Dortmund defender was on hand to head past Hugo Lloris on 13 minutes to send his nation into the last-four stage of the tournament, where they will face either Brazil or Colombia.

The build-up to the encounter was dominated by reports that many of the German camp had been suffering with flu.

However, there were no signs of fatigue early on and Joachim Low's side put to bed any rumors of malaise when Hummels nodded them ahead within 15 minutes.

Mats Hummels of Germany scores his team's first goal on a header against Raphael Varane of France and past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Quarter Final match between France and Germany at Maracana on July 4, 2014 © Getty Images

The centre-half, recalled to the starting lineup in place of Per Mertesacker, vindicated his coach's faith in him by out-muscling Raphael Varane to glance a Toni Kroos free kick past Lloris.

Les Bleus slowly grew into the game and fashioned two goalscoring opportunities before the break, with Manuel Neuer producing a tidy save to deny Mathieu Valbuena before Karim Benzema was also thwarted by the Bayern Munich shot-stopper.

Didier Deschamps's side managed to retain that momentum after the break and began the second half strongly, as Patrice Evra beat the offside trap from a free kick but his tame header never tested Neuer.

Having scored the opener, Hummels then denied France a prospective equaliser by throwing himself in the line of fire to block Benzema's close-range effort.

Unperturbed by the missed chance, France continued in the same vein and Neuer was forced to palm away Blaise Matuidi's thumping shot from an acute angle.

Germany's team celebrate after winning the quarter-final football match between France and Germany 1-0 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on July 4, 2014 © Getty Images

Andre Schurrle could, and perhaps should, have put the result beyond doubt in the closing 10 minutes, firing Mesut Ozil's cut-back pass at Lloris following a swift counter-attack from the Germans.

The Chelsea ace was denied again moments later, this time firing against the frame of Varane, but the missed opportunities would not come back to haunt Low's troops as Germany held on to seal their place in the semis for a record fourth successive tournament.