It was a lot more difficult than it should have been, but after extra time Germany managed to beat Algeria and keep their impressive quarterfinals qualification record with a 2-1 win, scoring their two goals in extra time after a goalless draw through the first 90 minutes, while the last African team in the tournament scored their goal in garbage time.
For the first half and some part of the second half, Manuel Neuer was actually the best player on the pitch. Algeria’s counter attacks worked quite well against a confused German side in terms of tactics with too many players not doing the role their used to perform.
The second half was different. More discipline, more order and more attacks from the wings as Thomas Muller was pretty much involved in every decent attack Germany had. Still, an excellent match for Rais M’Bolhi gave Algeria the confidence to last against a much better side and drag the match into extra time.
But one minute of overtime and it seemed over, as Andre Schurrle, very inaccurate since he entered the match, was first to a great pass from Muller to give Germany the lead. Mesut Ozil, who had an awful match, took advantage of a defense that completely fell apart, scoring in the 119th minute.
Adbelmoumene Djabou scored for Algeria as we entered injury time but that was all Algeria could do, out of the tournament after reaching the knockout stage for the first time ever. Germany, despite a rough encounter for them, are into the quarterfinals once again, destined to meet France on July 4.