HEAD TO HEAD: France Wins 11 Germany Wins 9 Draws 5 Referee: Nelson Pitana (ARG) Germany scraped home against an Algeria that took the attack to them and but for poor decision making in the final third should have won fairly comfortably. The role of using converted centrebacks as fullbacks by the likes of Germany and Argentina is coming into question particularly against mobile speedy wingers or wide midfielders and Howedes or Boateng have looked particularly comfortable. Lahm as the defensive mastermind infront of the defence was overrun several times once again when the still as not match sharp Schweinsteiger was removed. However the Germans have cause for comfort in the form and mobility of Muller and Schurrle when brought on and Ozil and Gotze will certainly be that much sharper than in the game against the Algerians. However should Neuer perform his sweeping routine he may well come a cropper at some point. One would expect the Germans to sit a little higher again to compress the midfield battle but this leaves them vulnerable to the lack of pace of Hummels who should return (and who was missed) and Mertesacker. Low may also return Lahm to his natural fullback role to control Valbuena or Griezemann and bring in Durm on the other flank. At the moment an outbreak of flu could hamper the fitness of several key players. Griezemann and Valbuena could run riot in the channels for France. The midfield has retained it's fluidity, Lloris was relatively commanding at the back but their weakness remain as shown by the Nigerians down the flanks and the form of Koscielny. Sakho however should return to make the defence more solid. Given the expected edge of the French midfield at present they should just edge this. They are rather fortunate though to retain the services of Giroud (another elbow) and an inexcusable tackle from Matuidi on Onazi who had been protecting the Nigerian defence with ease. His loss and the referees failure to send off Matuidi helped France to their win. Both sides have met three times at the World Cup. 1958 saw the Golden Boot winner Just Fontaine bag a hat trick or was it four ? The 1982 semi final remains infamous for the horror challenge of Toni Schumacher on substitute Patrick Battiston. He was not even carded and his challenge undoubtedly demoralized the French at a time when they were in the ascendancy. A rather flat France exhausted by their epic encounter with Brazil in the quarter finals went out meekly to the Germans once again at the semi final stages four years later in 1986. It was a shame both times. Germany as ever were more functional than artistic when compared to the silky smooth French midfield led by Platini, Giresse and Tigana and wonderful fullbacks in Amoros and Bossis. [video=youtube;VPTOnClKCJc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPTOnClKCJc[/video]
