Germany booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals thanks to a 2-1 extra-time win over Algeria at Estadio Beira-Rio on Monday night.
Algeria were impressive in the first half, pressing Germany well and playing on the break, but they were reliant on Rais Mbolhi in goal on a number of occasions in the second half.
It went to extra time, and it was substitute Andre Schurrle who flicked in the first with his heel in the first period before Mesut Ozil made the result certain late on. There was still time for a late consolation from Abdelmoumene Djabou.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Good evening all. The World Cup continues thick and fast and, after France's late win against Nigeria a couple of hours ago, we now have European giants Germany taking on Algeria, who are out to spoil the party. This match promises goals, with both teams managing plenty in their respective groups.
Germany had a small blip against Ghana in one of the games of the tournament so far, the 2-2 draw, and were perhaps not at their best in the final group game against America, but this is where they so often turn it on in international tournaments. I fully expect them to put on a show this evening.
The tournament so far has shown that there are no whipping boys, particularly in the latter stages, and Algeria will be a difficult prospect, no doubt. Before we go further into the build-up, we have the team news in...
GERMANY XI: Neuer; Mustafi, Mertesacker, Boateng, Howedes; Schweinsteiger, Lahm; Ozil, Kroos, Muller; Gotze
ALGERIA XI: Mbolhi; Ghoulam, Belkalem, Halliche, Mandi; Lacen, Soudani, Taider, Mostefa, Feghouli; Slimani
So the big news in the Germany side is that Mats Hummels is absent through illness. It means that there is a start on the right for Shkodran Mustafi, with Jerome Boateng moving into the middle alongside Per Mertesacker. The defence is already Germany's weak spot - if they have one - and Algeria might fancy themselves to create a few chances tonight.
I wonder, in the absence of Hummels, whether Philipp Lahm could have been put across to left-back, with Benedikt Howedes in the middle, but Joachim Low's call is an interesting one. Perhaps, up against Islam Slimani he preferred for slightly more speed, which Boateng possesses more of than Howedes.
SUBS:
Germany: Weidenfeller, Zieler, Durm, Grosskreutz, Ginter, Khedira, Kramer, Draxler, Schurrle, Klose
Algeria: Zemmamouche, Si Mohammed, Cadamuro-Bentaiba, Medjani, Bougherra, Mesbah, Brahimi, Djabou, Yebda, Bentaleb, Ghilas, Mahrez
Nine from nine in the World Cup is a quite staggering feat so far for Thomas Muller, and remember he is only 24! With Miroslav Klose looking for goal number 16 to break Ronaldo's record, it's safe to assume that Muller might well be going beyond that as well with two more tournaments still to come from him.
With Mario Gotze back in the team, Muller will start in the position that I think he plays a lot better in - from the right of the attack. He started up front against the USA and has done before in the past, but his late runs into the box and movement just do not have the same effect from there. Gotze has done well in the false nine position, and is very complementary to the attacking four as a unit.
Algeria did not have an easy time of things in Group H. Behind the favourites Belgium, any three realistically from them, Russia or South Korea could have gone through as runners up. In the end, Algeria just had too much in the way of firepower for the other two and deserve their spot in this round.
As well as the exploits of Slimani up front, arguably Algeria's key player so far has been Sofiane Feghouli. The Valencia man has been excellent with the ball in midfield and he will certainly need to be again, because he cannot expect to see a great deal of it against the likes of Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
German tennis player Sabine Lisicki is up for this one. ("Come on, boys!" that says for those not versed in German).
Speaking of Schweinsteiger in my earlier comment, I really think he is one of the best midfielders in the world. On form, he possesses a range of passing that not many others do, as well as the intelligence to get forward at just the right time. Germany looked much more solid with him alongside Lahm instead of Sami Khedira, and he once again keeps out the Real Madrid man.
Under five minutes to go now until kickoff. Excited? Me too! I cannot see beyond the Germans for this game and fancy them to put at least two past Algeria tonight. They might well concede, but I think this will be 3-1 and thus the highest scoring knockout game so far.
KICKOFF: Germany get things started here then. Will Algeria cause a massive upset or will the Germany train roll past another station?
It's a slightly different formation, it seems, from Germany so far. Lahm looks to be the sole anchor, rather than two, and is sitting between the two centre-backs when his team are on the ball. The captain tried to find Mustafi down the right, but the flag is up for offside and the replay shows it was the wrong call.
Not much of the ball in the opening exchanges for Algeria, but that is to be expected of course. They are keeping things tight in midfield, with Taider dropping into the hole behind Slimani.
No chances as yet in what has been a tactical opening eight minutes. Germany are the more comfortable, however, and are keeping the ball well, although mainly in their own half at the moment.
Sliding tackle from Neuer! Algeria win the ball and Slimani is played through, but slides it past the German keeper who had come way out of his box. In the end Neuer gets back and slides in with a brilliant tackle as the striker looked to shoot from wide left.
Slimani is causing some real problems early on. He's just got past Boateng, but was well tackled by Mertsesacker as he looked to go by him as well. It's clear who Algeria's dangerman is.
Decent effort from his left foot there by Schweinsteiger, and for a moment Mbolhi is in trouble as he parries it up into the air, but then gathered it. At the other end Feghouli takes on two players in the box but instead of tapping across to Soudani he slashes it over the bar from an impossible angle.
DISALLOWED GOAL! What a delivery that is from Ghoulam! He puts it into the middle from the left and Slimani, diving, heads it in, but he was just offside from the ball in. Algeria unlucky, but it was the right call.
CHANCE! It's all Algeria! The ball is switched to the left and Ghoulam on the overlap gets the better of Ozil but his shot flashes wide of the far post. Germany are in a match here!
Algeria are tackling really well today and they have won almost all of their attempts so far. They are pressing really well as well and Germany are struggling against that.
What's more, they're really good with the passing as well. The two full-backs, in particular Ghoulam on the left, are often furthest forward and the lone striker Slimani is anything but on his own. You do feel as though Algeria will need to capitalise on their pressure with a goal, however.
Germany are back on the ball now and they work a corner on the right, but with all the German height in the box it's Mostefa who gets up to head away.
Slimani's movement so far has been excellent. He's finding space between and just off the two centre-backs, and with his strength he's able to get teammates into play. Germany certainly look like they might concede tonight.
There has been a slight lull in the action over the last few minutes. The most exciting thing was Neuer rushing 35 yards out of goal to get Mertesacker out of a sticky situation. The Arsenal man is not blessed with pace and Slimani has targeted that so far.
Germany have a chance at one end, with Gotze stepping over Ozil's pass to allow Lahm a shot. From it Algeria break and now have a free kick to the left hand side some 25 yards out.
Muller is playing as the forward, rather than on the right hand side, and as he so often is when he starts there he has been isolated. Germany have really struggled against this pressing game. Muller throws himself at an Ozil cross, but directs his effort wide.
Less than 10 minutes now until the break and Germany are just slightly ramping up the pressure. Kroos combines with Schweinsteiger, who then finds Ozil, but his shot from range is parried away by Mbolhi. It dipped right before the keeper so that's a good save.
CLOSE! Effort from range there from Soudani, whose shot hits Boateng, wrong-foots Neuer and then goes just wide. That could have gone anywhere, but was the right side of the post from a Germany point of view.
DOUBLE SAVE! What fantastic goalkeeping from Mbolhi! First Kroos catches one from 25 yards and forced a low save, before he was quickly up to block Gotze's rebound from close range. That's fantastic from the Algeria stopper!
BOOKING: Refik Halliche, the former Fulham man, goes into the book for a crunching tackle on Schweinsteiger. Nasty one that and he doesn't complain.
Germany are being forced to shoot from range, and this time Kroos's 30-yard strike on his left foot goes a few yards wide, curling away from goal.
Just the one minute of added time at the end of this half. A goal looks very unlikely.
HALF-TIME: Germany 0-0 Algeria
Well Algeria have done fantastically so far in Porto Alegre. They have pressed Germany all half and could well have scored themselves. They have needed the form of Mbolhi in goal to keep them level, but if anyone was expecting Germany to smash five past the African side then they have been proven wrong.
Germany have looked shaky at the back and not comfortable at all on the ball. Having four centre-backs on the pitch has meant that there has been hardly any width, which has played into the hands of the banks of four pressing game from Algeria. Low needs to change something.
This would be just the sort of game that Lukas Podolski might have an impact on. The Germans are sorely lacking width and this is what he would provide. Of course, Low cannot call on him, but Julian Draxler could be an option to have a similar effect.
It is in attack where Germany have lacked ideas. I think their weakest player so far has been Gotze, so bringing on Miroslav Klose to be a target, putting Muller on the right, Ozil on the left and Kroos in the middle might work. But what do I know, hey?
KICKOFF: Indeed, what do I know? It is Gotze who has come off as I suspected, but Andre Schurrle comes on for him.
CLOSE! Schurrle almost scores a very fortuitous goal. He bundles his way through and a deflection takes his shot up and wide for a corner. From it, Mustafi powers a header right at Mbolhi when he might have done better. Bright start from Germany.
Neuer has not looked comfortable at all as he spills a corner before gathering. However, his kick forward goes right to the path of Schurrle, but it's brilliant defending from Ghoulam to get back and clear for a corner.
Taider goes down in a heap under a late tackle from Schweinsteiger, but there was nothing malicious at all despite the Algerian fans waving imaginary red cards. Barcelona have a lot to answer for...
SAVE! What a stop from Mbolhi! The ball is worked well from Schweinsteiger to Lahm, and his shot from just outside the box is tipped wide by the fingers of the Algeria keeper.
Feghouli crosses in a rare foray forward in this half for Algeria, but Boateng cuts it out easily before Germany break. It comes to nothing for them, though, and their attack is still not as free-flowing as we have come to expect.
Schurrle has brought a different approach to this game. Rather than intricate passing, he is getting the ball and running with it, although he did scuff a left-footed effort well over a few moments ago. That was wasteful.
A few corners in a row here for Germany as they once again ramp up the pressure. No really good chances, however.
Schurrle loses the ball then has a nibble at the ankles of LAcen. From the free kick Ghoulam gets in a position to cross, but Silimani was offside as the ball was played in, but it was blocked out for a throw anyway.
Mustafi is down receiving treatment, and it looks as though he won't be able to continue. The stretcher is out, so that could be the end of Mustafi's tournament, let along match.
GERMANY SUB: It's Khedira on for Mustafi, and that will probably see Lahm go back to right-back. He's not played there for a while.
Neuer comes out again, this time winning a header as Slimani tried to get on the end of a raking angled ball. Is this heading to extra time?
Good header clear from Halliche from a whipped-in Kroos ball. He has defended well all night. Germany just cannot get in behind, this has been excellent from the Algeria defence.
CHANCE! Decent strike at goal from Slimani, as Algeria broke at pace but his effort was right down the throat of Neuer. End-to-end here in the closing stages, as Boateng was positioned well to clear Soudani's low cross behind for a corner.
ALGERIA SUB: Yacine Brahimi is on for Algeria, who could be a real threat in the last 15 minutes or so. It's Taider who makes way. He has played well but faded in the second half.
CHANCE! Big chance for Germany! Muller is put away down the right and he fizzes a cross in for Schweinsteiger, but he can only get a glance on it and it goes across the face of goal. A better contact and that was 1-0.
SAVE! If Algeria get through they will have Mbolhi to thank! He's just made a great stop from a Muller header, with Schurrle's rebound blocked at close range.
MISS! Muller has to score! He's played over the top and brings it down superbly. He then cuts inside Halliche, but his poked effort goes wide of the post. That would have been an absolutely superb individual goal, but the finish just wasn't there.
The Algeria fans are loving this in the stands. Germany have a corner here, with Halliche off the field receiving treatment.
Now they have a free kick around 25 yards out following a Feghouli handball. It was a little harsh, in truth, as Boateng's shot absolutely clattered into him.
Er, what have I seen? Muller pretends to trip going for the ball, before running on with the intention of being found over the top... but Kroos hit the wall and in the end Germany just look silly.
CHANCE! Schweinsteiger beats the offside trap to meet Lahm's clipped cross, but he just did not get the power and Mbolhi made a comfortable save in the end. We're heading for extra time.
Certainly Algeria are hanging on for the extra 30 minutes, with Mbolhi in no rush to pick up the ball. Germany are finishing strongest, but they haven't looked like scoring all night in truth. They have had chances, sure, but something just hasn't been right with them.
Late corner from Kroos is held by Mbolhi and I think that will be extra time.
FULL-TIME: Germany 0-0 Algeria
Well we'll have another 30 minutes of this, and really it has been an entertaining goalless draw. Algeria have been brilliant at the back and you must say that they deserve the result. Mbolhi as a last line of defence has been absolutely phenomenal, but Halliche in front of him has been outstanding. Germany just did not have the ideas to break them down. Will they in another 30 minutes?
Germany have had 12 shots on target to Algeria's one, but a lot of them have been from distance. Schweinsteiger and Muller both should have done better with headers, but Algeria remain a threat on the break.
We're back underway for the first of 30 extra minutes. The longer it goes on the more you fancy Germany, but at 0-0 Algeria will remain right in it.
GOAL! Germany 1-0 Algeria (Andre Schurrle)
Oh that's a lovely finish from Schurrle! Muller fires in a cross from the left and the Chelsea man flicks it into the net with his geel. Germany finally lead and you certainly wouldn't bet against them now.
What are Algeria made of now? Germany are in control at the moment and might have been 2-0 ahead had Muller's shot from the edge of the box not been well blocked.
ALGERIA SUB: Halliche is down with cramp for the last time and he cannot carry on. Madjid Bougherra comes on for him.
CLOSE! Good strike from Muller there. He tries to curl it towards the corner from just outside the box, but it goes wide. Djabou is on for Soudani.
CHANCE! Snap-shot in the box from a corner for Mostefa but he just snatches at it and drags it wide of the near post.
Khedira, of all people, takes on a couple of players and drives down the left. His cross is just behind Schurrle, however, and the chance goes. Germany want the second goal that would ensure the win.
ET HALF-TIME: Germany 1-0 Algeria
We're back underway as Algeria kick off the final 15 minutes.
BOOKING: Lahm goes into the book and that's cynical on Brahimi. He was skinned and then tried to make Brahimi play skins as he nearly ripped off his shorts. Dangerous spot for a free kick.
GERMANY SUB: Schweinsteiger is hobbling off to a rousing reception from the Germany fans. On comes Christoph Kramer of Gladbach.
Understandably, the pace has slowed down quite a bit in the last few minutes. The Algeria players in particular look incredibly tired - can they create another chance?
Time is quickly running out for Algeria, but they are still trying to come forward, particularly on the left through Djabou.
Big chance for Germany as Khedira plays in Muller, who skips by the goalkeeper but cannot find a teammate with his cut-back. Algeria just cannot be finished off.
GOAL! Germany 2-0 Algeria (Mesut Ozil)
Germany score, but Ozil really does not seem to want to! Schurrle cuts it to him, but for some reason it's given straight back. His shot is blocked, before Ozil has to shoot, and scores from close range. He clearly wasn't confident, but that will help. Germany are through.
GOAL! Germany 2-1 Algeria (Djabou)
FULL-TIME: Germany 2-1 Algeria
So Germany go through as expected to take on France, but Algeria deserve a lot of credit for their performance. Thanks for joining me tonight and we'll be back tomorrow with loads more from the World Cup. Goodbye!
