..::Football III::..

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Ozil: Germany can become legends

Mesut Ozil has urged his Germany team-mates to seize their opportunity to win the World Cup, an achievement that would see them become legends in their homeland.

Joachim Low’s men topped Group G ahead of USA, Portugal and Ghana and are now preparing to face Algeria in the last 16 on Monday.

Ozil has stressed there is no margin for error as his team enter the knockout phase of the tournament and said nothing but overall victory would please him.

"We can beat anyone if we give our best. We can become legends by winning the World Cup as a European team in South America,” the 25-year-old told Kicker.

“Anything else would be a disappointment for me personally. Four years ago, we went out before reaching our goal. I don't want to crash out again and wait four years for the next opportunity.

"Starting with the round of 16, every little mistake can cost you your tournament. It is not like in the group phase, when you can permit yourself a draw against Ghana and you get a new chance. It is all about being successful in every match now."

Ozil says he is relatively pleased with his individual performances in the three World Cup games he has appeared in so far and discussed the challenges of facing “smaller” nations like Algeria.

The Arsenal attacking midfielder added: "I think that I have had good matches. I had chances to score which I should have taken and this is the final thing that is still missing, a goal or an assist. I will improve.

"I think Algeria will sit deep, just like the USA did, and look for the counter. Such relatively small footballing nations like Algeria want to prove themselves against Germany. They will give 200 per cent to make life difficult for us."

Victory over Algeria would see Germany come up against either France or Nigeria in the last eight.

 

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Kaka to join MLS side Orlando City

AC Milan have announced that Kaka will leave the club after agreeing to a mutual termination of his contract, with the player set for a short stint at Sao Paolo before signing with Orlando City.

The Brazilian returned to San Siro last summer after a disappointing spell at Real Madrid, but was unable to prevent the Rossoneri's decline as they missed out on qualifying for European football.

Kaka scored nine goals and set up eight others during his solitary season back at Milan, with whom he had previously won the Champions League.

"AC Milan announce that they have today terminated the contract of Kaka by mutual agreement," a club statement read.

Sao Paulo vice-president Ataide Gil Guerreiro claimed on Monday that the 32-year-old would return to his first club before making a move to MLS outfit Orlando City, a statement which has been confirmed by the player.

The Florida-based club has been announced as an MLS expansion franchise for the 2015 season.

"I took a few days to think about my future, and I took the decision to go to play in America. I always wanted to go there," Kaka told the AC Milan channel.

"I'll play first with Sao Paolo and then I will go to Orlando which is a nice project. I am very happy to be able to play again, even if for a short time, in the colours of Sao Paolo."

Kaka also revealed that he would no longer wear the number 22 that he wore at Milan due to his cherished history at the Serie A side.

I will have number eight in Brazil and 10 in America, I'm not using number 22, that I had at AC Milan, any more," he added.

"It was a difficult year, but it represents an honor for me to exceed 300 appearances and 100 goals in a Rossoneri shirt.

"I have not left Milan because we are not in the Champions League, I made the choice for other [reasons].

"Even if I go back to Brazil and begin a new adventure in America, I will miss the chorus of the fans. The relationsip with this club will alway be close.

"I will always be a supporter of Milan, I hope to send messages as soon as possible to [vice president Adriano] Galliani about our [success] in Italy and Europe. I leave many friends here."

 

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Messi: Another World Cup now begins

Lionel Messi believes Argentina’s real World Cup challenge starts now as they prepare to face Switzerland in the round of 16.

Argentina claimed wins over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran and Nigeria to ease into the knockout stages as Group F winners, but Messi says his side’s path to glory is only just beginning.

"I'm happy to have qualified for the second round as group winners, but another World [Cup] now begins," he wrote on his Facebook page.

"We really want to achieve something big."

Messi shook off a disappointing Barcelona season to plunder four goals in the group stages – with match-winning goals in all three of Argentina’s games so far.

Should Argentina beat Switzerland, they will face the winner of Belgium and the USA in the last eight, although a potential clash with rivals Brazil can only occur if both sides reach the final.

 

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I'd love Kroos at Manchester United - Scholes

Paul Scholes has hailed Bayern Munich and Germany playmaker Toni Kroos, adding that he "wished" Manchester United had signed him.

Louis van Gaal named the 24-year-old among his desired transfer targets ahead of confirmation of his appointment at Old Trafford, however Kroos has since insisted a move is not in the offing.

Scholes previously called on Van Gaal to make Kroos his first signing as United manager and has now praised his abilities again after the 24-year-old's performances for Germany at the World Cup.

"I love watching Toni Kroos. I think he's brilliant," Scholes wrote in his blog for Paddy Power.

"I love the way he controls the ball and controls games. He can really play a pass and has superb vision. Kroos is capable of scoring goals too, from outside the box on either foot.

"I just wish Manchester United had signed him. Yes, it is good to see United bringing in new players, but they haven't signed anything like the quality of Kroos."

Germany marched into the World Cup last-16 stage by topping Group G and face Algeria on Monday evening for a place in the quarter-finals.

Scholes praised Joachim Low's tactical approach but raised questions over Germany's defence - namely Per Mertesacker and Benedikt Howedes.

"Joachim Low’s strategy of using four centre-backs has managed to keep to [sic] clean sheets in the group games for Germany. However there are weaknesses in his team," he continued.

"He must be doing something right with more than 100 caps but Per Mertesaker is slow and cumbersome.

"At left-back the Shalke centre-half, Benedikt Howedes, looks a little vulnerable. Mats Hummels is not the quickest either."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Kroos wa ganna puluwan nam patta!​

 

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Mourinho: I want upsets at World Cup

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he would love to see an underdog reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.

The Portuguese named Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Netherlands as his favourites for the trophy, but is eager to see an unfancied side like quarter-finalists Costa Rica upset the odds in South America.

“Semi-finals between Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Netherlands could be perfectly normal semi-finals,” he said to Eurosport.

“But I would love to see something not normal, and to see something not normal is to see one of these outsiders playing so well.

“They have fantastic spirit and I would like to see one of them break this dominance and be in the semi-finals at least. Let’s see what is waiting for us.”

Both Brazil and Costa Rica needed a penalty shootout to reach the last-eight of the World Cup and Mourinho believes the more talented teams will always be favoured in such high-pressure situations.

“Normally the players at the highest level are the players more ready to cope with these moments of pressure,” he added.

“That’s why Germany always reach the latter stages of competitions and why Argentina and Brazil also reach the last four or sometimes the finals. It’s because of the individual talent that they have.”

Brazil and Costa Rica will square off against Colombia and Netherlands respectively in the quarter-finals, with the other last-eight participants yet to be determined.

 

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Boateng: I'd love to return to Milan

Schalke midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has admitted that he would love to return to former side AC Milan one day.

The Ghanaian played for the Serie A club for three years before moving to Germany at the beginning of last season, and revealed that he still harbours a lot of affection for his one-time home.

“I’m still a big fan of Milan, everyone knows that,” he told Sky Italia.

“It was a wonderful experience for me and I’d love to return one day. In football, you never know.

“For me, Milan is still my home because I lived there for three years. I met my partner there, we have a son so it is as if it was my home.

Boateng also offered words of encouragement to new Milan boss Filippo Inzaghi and hoped that his former team-mate would be given the time to get the Rossoneri back into Europe.

"He needs plenty of luck and a lot of time. I wish him well,” he added.

“Hopefully they give him the right time to work because they have good players. I never want to see Europe without AC Milan, it is a strange thing. They have to stay at the top."

Boateng was sent home and suspended indefinitely from the Ghana national team alongside Sulley Muntari for allegedly verbally abusing coach James Kwesi Appiah, but insisted that his punishment was motivated by the row surrounding World Cup bonus payments.

“I have no quarrel with Sulley, indeed, Muntari defended me,” he said. “I think the coach just wanted to find an excuse.

“The real reason was the meeting with the leaders of the Federation, during which I asked in my speech about the payments given to us by Fifa.”

 

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'I didn't have the balls' - Huntelaar on penalty

Netherlands forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar says a recent penalty slump almost made him turn down their match-winning spot-kick against Mexico.

Louis van Gaal's men appeared to be staring defeat in the face during their last-16 clash on Sunday, as Giovani Dos Santos gave the North American nation a deserved lead just after the break. But the Dutch fought back and dominated the majority of the second half, drawing level in the 88th minute thanks to Wesley Sneijder.

Huntelaar eventually netted the all-important second goal, converting a penalty with admirable composure in the fourth minute of stoppage time, but the Schalke man was in two minds before taking the kick.

The 30-year-old had missed four of his previous five spot-kicks and he acknowledged that he almost changed his mind about taking the penalty."I didn't have the balls to shoot it down the middle," he told NIS.

"Arjen [Robben] had the ball and asked 'would you like to take it?' When I was there I thought about changing [my mind], as I had missed the last time."[But] what an adrenaline rush. This is the best drug out there."

Robin van Persie endured a disappointing day individually as he was hauled off for Huntelaar in the second half and he recognised that the excessive heat and humidity had made conditions tough."It was very tough," the Manchester United forward added.

"When you are losing you want to attack, but you also need to make sure the space at the back is not too great. Then the heat - it made it extra hard."We now have to deal with the next round. We are good, I believe in us and that we must continue to do so [believe in themselves]."

Netherlands will now face Costa Rica in the quarter finals after the latter's shootout win over Greece.

 

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Bringing Balotelli back to Italy was a mistake - agent

Mario Balotelli's agent, Mino Raiola, feels his client's return to Italian football with AC Milan was a mistake.

The Azzurri striker arrived in Serie A from Manchester City in January 2013, and has scored 26 goals in just 43 league outing appearances since.

But with Arsenal interested in the forward - with Goal understanding Arsene Wenger met with Raiola while working at the World Cup in Brazil - a departure from his homeland for Balotelli is a possibility.

And Raiola feels the blame his client has received since Italy's World Cup first-round elimination is reason enough as to why he should never have brought him back to the country.

"Winning the 2006 World Cup disguised the real problems in Italian football and today they are doing the same thing with Balotelli. You talk about him and therefore hide the real problems," he told Rai Sport.

"It irritated me to see all the blame dumped on to a 23-year-old. It annoyed me and I don’t think this would’ve happened anywhere else in the world.

"I made a mistake in bringing Mario back to Italy."

Raiola has previously called on Milan to allow Balotelli to leave, claiming he is "sad and desperate", and though chief executive Adriano Galliani has ruled out a move, Goal believes the seven-time European champions would accept an offer in the region of €43.5 million [£35m] for the striker.

 

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Neymar: I aged with that penalty

Neymar says he aged a few years because of the pressure and anguish of taking Brazil's decisive spot-kick in their penalty shoot-out victory over Chile.

The game had finished 1-1, with Alexis Sanchez’s first-half strike cancelling out David Luiz’s earlier effort and eventually went into extra time and then penalties. By the time Neymar stepped up to take Brazil’s fifth penalty both sides had missed two and scored two.

The 22-year-old converted his successfully before Gonzalo Jara's miss secured the win for Brazil and Neymar says he felt the pressure as he took the long walk from the centre circle to the penalty spot.“It was like travelling 5 kms,” Neymar told Mundo Deportivo.

"[The penalty was like] I had aged many years. It was an age before hitting the penalty and now I am many years older."

 

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No Michu bids, insists Swansea chairman

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins insists that no bids have been received for star striker Michu.

After two seasons in the Premier League with the Welsh club, reports have linked the Spaniard with a move to Napoli.

However, Jenkins dismissed the rumours and claimed that coach Garry Monk would hold talks with Michu later this week.

"If the reports are right, there seems to be a lot of interest in Michu," he told the South Wales Evening Post.

"From the club's point of view, I can tell you that we have not received any enquiries about Michu.

"The only thing I would say is that I am sure Garry will meet with Michu and discuss things with him when he reports back."

Michu was blighted by injuries last season and made just 17 Premier League appearances, scoring twice, but he demonstrated his talent with an 18-goal top-flight haul in the previous campaign.

If the former Rayo Vallecano man does remain at the Liberty Stadium, he will link up with new arrival Bafetimbi Gomis, who signed a four-year deal on Friday after leaving Lyon.

 

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Liverpool should keep Suarez, says Comolli

Liverpool should "definitely" keep Luis Suarez this summer despite the striker's latest biting controversy, according to former director of football Damien Comolli.

Suarez has been banned from all football-related activity for four months by Fifa for biting Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's Group C victory over Italy.

The Anfield front man stands to miss as many as 13 games as a result, but the club's former director of football, who was involved in the signing of the striker, believes Suarez is unique and it would be wrong of the club to sell him.

"Who do you replace him with? There is nobody like him around," Comolli told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"If there was, Real Madrid and Barcelona would go after them and not Suarez."

Comolli also expects the likes of Barca and Real to use the suspension - Suarez's second since joining Liverpool after biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in 2013 - to "drive the price down" in any transfer negotiations.

He added: "If there was a buying club and they felt Liverpool would sell, they will take advantage and try to drive the price down."

Suarez insists he did not intentionally bite Chiellini, but instead lost his balance and fell on the Italy defender.

 

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Disgraced Suarez finally admits to biting Chiellini

Disgraced Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has finally admitted to biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.

The Liverpool forward has been barred from all football-related activity for four months, banned for nine competitive international matches and hit with an €80,000 fine.
Suarez had previously denied biting the defender, instead insisting his face "hit against the player, leaving a small bruise ... and a strong pain in my teeth" but has now come clean.

The fallout from the incident has been vast and wide-reaching, with the president of the Uruguay Football Association, Jose Murjica, calling the ban "fascist" and Uruguay team-mate Diego Lugano branding it an "act of barbarity".

Suarez was previously banned for seven matches in 2010 for biting PSV's Otman Bakkal, during his time at Ajax before being suspended for a further 10 games after biting Branislav Ivanovic while playing for Liverpool.

The Uruguayan FA have informed Fifa that they will appeal against the ban, though it remains to be seen if Suarez's apology will change their stance.

Chiellini himself has called the punishment on Suarez "excessive" and took to Twitter shortly after the Uruguayan's apology to make it clear he holds no grudges over the incident.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Suarez danwath warada piligattha 1ka loku deyak & Meeta passewath mehwage dewal karanne nathuwa hitiyanam thamai hoda​

 

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Manchester City rival Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United in race for Sanchez

Manchester City have asked Barcelona to keep them abreast of developments on the situation of forward Alexis Sanchez, as the Premier League's elite clubs consider bids for the Chile international, Goal understands.

Arsenal, as exclusively revealed by Goal on Saturday, head the list of interested parties, with Liverpool and Manchester United also monitoring Sanchez's future. But City are considering a big-money move themselves, despite facing a €61 million [£49m] spending cap this summer as a result of the fine handed to them by Uefa following their Financial Fair Play transgressions last year.

That has prompted a rethink in City's transfer strategy, with the club now considering a cut-price move for a defender to free up cash to spend on Sanchez, after having already signed Porto midfielder Fernando for €15m [£12m].

Porto centre-back Eliaquim Mangala is still very much in the Premier League champions' thoughts, while they have also weighed up a €31m [£25m] move for Roma's Mehdi Benatia.

But manager Mauricio Pellegrini believes a move for Davide Astori, the 27-year-old Cagliari and Italy centre-back, for around €7.5m [£6m] could supplement the free transfer of Bacary Sagna and make more financial sense allied with a move for Sanchez.

And with Pellegrini currently in Brazil working for television station TV Chile and based close to the national team's hotel, he could be ready to use his privileged access if given the green light by Barca.

The future of Yaya Toure could also play a part in any bid for Sanchez, with the Ivorian's future up in the air at Eastlands.

Yaya has claimed City did not allow him time away from a club trip to Abu Dhabi following the end of the season to be by the side of his brother Ibrahim, who died of cancer earlier in June.

Toure's advisor Dimitri Seluk also suggested the midfielder was unhappy with the club's failure to acknowledge his birthday, and talks between the club and player have been scheduled after the 31-year-old's three-week break following his involvement in the World Cup with the Ivory Coast.

And should Barcelona consider a swap involving Suarez and Yaya Toure, the wheels of a move could be greased more swiftly.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United could all provide serious competition for the 25-year-old's signature, though, with all three ready to meet the asking price of around €40m [£32m].

With a quartet of big Premier League sides interested, and Juventus also in the hunt, Sanchez could be involved in the key transfer saga of the summer.

 

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Germany Vs Algeria

Starting Line-ups

 

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Germany 2-1 Algeria (AET): Schurrle and Ozil ensure Low's side scrape through

Germany secured a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup after Andre Schurrle and Mesut Ozil struck in extra-time to seal a win 2-1 over Algeria on Monday.

After a pulsating 90 minutes in Porto Alegre had ended goalless, Chelsea forward Schurrle - on as a half-time substitute for Mario Gotze - cleverly flicked in Thomas Muller's low cross two minutes into extra-time to give Germany the lead.

Ozil added a second late on to wrap up victory for Joachim Low's side, before Algeria, who performed admirably throughout, gained a consolation through Abdelmoumene Djabou.

The result meant Algeria were unable to exact revenge for the "Disgrace of Gijon", when West Germany and Austria played out a mutually beneficial 1-0 scoreline that saw both sides through from the group at the expense of Algeria in the 1982 finals in Spain.

With many pointing to that infamous match as motivation for Vahid Halilhodzic's men in the build-up, Algeria flew out of the blocks in the opening 20 minutes, cutting through the German backline on a number of occasions and seeing an Islam Slimani goal disallowed for offside.

The African nation - making their first appearance in the second round - continued to impress, but Germany, who will now face France at the Maracana on Friday, finished the stronger and remain on course to reach the semi-finals of a fourth successive World Cup.

Algeria made a flying start and Manuel Neuer had to make a sliding tackle to deny Slimani an effort on goal from wide on the left in the ninth minute, after the goalkeeper had initially misjudged a charge from his line.

Sofiane Feghouli wasted a good position six minutes later, blazing the ball wildly across goal from the byline with two team-mates better placed.

Slimani converted Faouzi Ghoulam's wonderful cross from the left with a diving header in the 17th minute, but the referee's assistant correctly ruled that the Sporting Lisbon man had strayed offside, before Ghoulam flashed another effort narrowly off target as Algeria continued to dominate.

Germany gradually grew into the game towards the end of the first half, Muller heading wide and Ozil testing Rais M'Bolhi with a dipping effort.

Yet Algeria hit back in the 39th minute, Mehdi Mostefa thumping in a shot from 25 yards which deflected off Jerome Boateng and past the left-hand post with Neuer completely wrong-footed.

M'Bolhi made a superb double stop two minutes later, parrying Toni Kroos' drive away and then springing to his feet to keep out Gotze's rebound.

Germany enjoyed a more assured opening to the second period, Schurrle seeing an effort deflected just wide before Skhodran Mustafi, who replaced Mats Hummels in defence with Boateng switching to centre-back, headed straight at M'Bolhi from Kroos' delivery.

Philipp Lahm went close in the 55th minute, his curling effort diverted wide by an acrobatic save from M'Bolhi.

As the game wore on the play became stretched and Slimani sent a rasping effort from distance straight into the arms of Neuer 15 minutes from time.

Germany responded strongly and Muller ought to have scored his fifth goal of the tournament shortly afterwards, but his powerful header was beaten away by M'Bolhi.

Muller had another clear chance moments later, stabbing the ball wide after a glorious touch to bring the ball under control, while Bastian Schweinsteiger was unable to seriously trouble M'Bolhi with a weak header from Lahm's chipped pass.

Low's side then struck early in the first extra period, Schurrle adjusting brilliantly to backheel Muller's cross from the left into the net.

Algeria could have levelled through Mostefa, who snatched an effort wide from 10 yards after Germany failed to deal with a corner.

Ozil then made the game safe in the closing stages, lashing high into the net after Schurrle had been denied just in front of the goalline by Essaid Belkalem, although there was one final twist as Djabou converted a right-wing cross at the back post to net a deserved consolation for Algeria.

 

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Keshi resigns as Nigeria coach

Stephen Keshi has resigned as head coach of Nigeria following their World Cup elimination at the hands of France.

The Super Eagles could not progress past the last 16 of the tournament, losing 2-0 to les Bleus on Monday thanks to a Paul Pogba header and a Joseph Yobo own goal, both of which came late in the game.

Yobo, who picked up his 100th cap against France, announced his retirement to gathered media after the match, although his coach was reluctant to publically confirm he would step down.

However, Keshi is believed to have told Nigerian players following the Afcon champions' exit that he will leave the Super Eagles hotseat with their World Cup now over.

Keshi has stepped aside before only be to convinced to return, after the Confederations Cup last summer, but is set to move on to pastures new, with the post as South Africa coach identified as a possible alternative.

 

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Bougherra: Algeria close to 'extraordinary' win

Madjid Bougherra insists Algeria were close to doing something "extraordinary" after their extra-time defeat to Germany at Estadio Beira-Rio on Monday.

The north Africans held Joachim Low's men to a goalless draw in 90 minutes and threatened to score themselves on numerous occasions, with Islam Slimani having a goal disallowed for offside in the first half.

Andre Schurrle gave Germany the lead at the start of extra-time and Mesut Ozil thought he had made the game safe on 119 minutes, but substitute Abdelmoumene Djabou still had time to set up a nervy finale.

And after the match Bougherra, who came on during the additional 30 minutes, insisted Algeria could be proud of their spirited display.

"We were very, very close of doing the extraordinary," he told reporters. "We remained level with this great Germany for 90 minutes. We showed great quality and strengths. I'm very proud of what we've done.

"I think the goal in the first half could have made us more confident, there were a lot of chances. But it didn't happen. We reacted well to both goals. When a team plays with such heart, it's the foundation you need to succeed."

Team-mate Rais M'Bolhi earned the Man of the Match award for pulling off a string of impressive saves in the Algerian goal, and after the match he too was upbeat.

"We are part of Algerian football history," he insisted. "We have a lot to build on this. We played on equal conditions with bigger teams than us.

"I have to congratulate my team-mates. There were not many aspects we missed today, even though we conceded two goals."

 

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Low fumes at Germany's first-half display

Joachim Low has conceded that Germany put in a dismal first-half performance as they edged past Algeria 2-1 after extra-time on Monday to set up a World Cup quarter-final clash with France.

Andre Schurrle and Mesut Ozil scored in the additional 30 minutes for the pre-game favourites, ensuring that Abdelmoumene Djabou's goal in the dying seconds was just a consolation after a battling display from the north Africans.

Low was disappointed that makeshift centre-back pairing of Per Mertesacker and Jerome Boateng were exposed by Algeria's long passes from deep and admitted his frustration at his side's poor opening period on the whole.

"It was a victory achieved by our strength of will," he told ZDF. "But the first half was bad. During the second half and extra-time we were the better team and had the better chances. We should have decided it during the second half.

"We gave away an awful lot of passes. This was unusual. And we had problems in getting behind their defenders.

"We had to switch our line-up again as Mats Hummels was not fit to play. Per Mertesacker and Jerome Boateng have played together many times and they know each other - normally they are very good. But Algeria played these long balls very well, they are very good at that.

"In a match like this you have to see how it develops. We need players we can bring into that match and who can make the difference. Today we brought in Sami Khedira and Andre Schurrle and they provided us with a boost.

"Now we have to calm down after this match and see what happens, how the players relax from it. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Khedria have not played for 90 minutes often lately.

"Matches like these happen during a tournament but we have to power through them. We saw it with Brazil against Chile on Saturday for example. It can happen that you have to go into extra-time."

Manuel Neuer essentially played as a makeshift sweeper throughout the last-16 tie in Porto Alegre and came to the side's rescue on a number of occasions when Algeria broke through the Germany back four, but the goalkeeper insisted his performance was nothing unusual.

"I played no different to how I usually play at Bayern Munich or in the national team," he said. "The pitch was wet and that made it a little easier for me."

Germany will face France on Friday and, if they win that last-eight match, they will come up against Brazil or Colombia in the semi-finals.