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Germany 1 Hummels 12'
Returning from a thigh injury that kept him out of the Round of 16, Mamadou Sakho slotted straight back in to Didier Deschamps' starting eleven as France faced off against Germany in the first quarter-final of the World Cup. The Liverpool defender showed no signs of his earlier knock, stopping three German attacks and almost setting up a goal in the opening ten minutes as he commanded France's backline.
The opening goal, though, went to the Germans against the run of play when Mats Hummels too easily outmuscled Raphael Varane in the area and sent home a header off a set-piece. The goal invigorated Germany, who looked the better side following it. Late in the half France began to grow back into the game, but they couldn't pull level before the break and there was little to separate the two sides in the second half.
In the end, Sakho's recent injury struggles meant he lacked fitness and had to come off after 70 minutes. And in the end, France couldn't break down a solid German side who now go on to face the winner of Brazil v. Colombia on Tuesday.
