Late strikes by Paul Pogba and a Joseph Yobo own goal gave France a 2-0 win over Nigeria and sent them through to the World Cup quarter-finals.
In what was an evenly matched contest for long spells, the introduction of Antoine Griezmann on the hour mark proved a turning point as the French claimed the upper hand from thereon in.
Late strikes by Paul Pogba and a Joseph Yobo own goal gave France a 2-0 win over Nigeria and sent them through to the World Cup quarter-finals.
In what was an evenly matched contest for long spells, the introduction of Antoine Griezmann on the hour mark proved a turning point as the French claimed the upper hand from thereon in.
With around 10 minutes remaining, Les Bleus' superiority told with Pogba's header. Griezmann's pressure on Yobo caused the defender to then inadvertently make it two on the stroke of full time, meaning France will now move into the last eight of the tournament for the first time since 2006.
Juventus’” data-scaytid=”10″>Juventus’ Pogba started in France's midfield, with the youngster taking his place alongside Blaise Matuidi and Yohan Cabaye.
Olivier Giroud was preferred to Real Sociedad’s Antoine Griezmann out wide, as he supported Karim Benzema and Fiorentina” data-scaytid=”22″>Fiorentina target Mathieu Valbuena in attack.
Lazio’s” data-scaytid=”24″>Lazio’s Ogenyi Onazi meanwhile lined up for Stephen Keshi’s men, who are the African champions and finished as runners up to Argentina in Group F.
If Didier Deschamps’ side were favourites heading into the encounter on paper, they had it far from their own way in the opening stages as Nigeria went toe to toe with their opponents.
They had the ball in the net after 18 minutes as Emmanuel Eminike expertly finished Ahmed Musa’s cross, but the forward was flagged marginally offside. It was an extremely close call, and one which Nigeria will feel hard done by.
The end to end nature of the contest continued and it was the French who were next to threaten. A swift counter-attack ended with Valbuena crossing for Pogba, whose excellent volley seemed destined for the net. However, Super Eagles keeper Vincent Enyeama produced a top-drawer save to keep it out.
The frantic pace of the game dropped slightly as the half wore on, with both teams beginning to make errors in possession.
Les Bleus, however, had another excellent chance to open the scoring just over five minutes before half-time. Another good move on the right ended with the ball at the feet of Mathieu Debuchy, but the full-back could only blast wide when well placed inside the area.
At the other end, Emineke stung the palms of Hugo Lloris in the French goal from distance but it remained goalless at the break.
The second half began at a slower tempo to that of the first but Deschamps’ team should arguably have been down to ten men soon after.
Matuidi went in heavily on Onazi with his studs showing. It was an ugly challenge and signalled the end of the Lazio man’s involvement in the match, but referee Mark Geiger only produced a yellow card.
Peter Odemwingie unleashed a decent shot soon after that was well saved by Lloris, but the arrival of Griezmann on 62 minutes was to prove key.
France seized control of the match and created their best chance of the day when Benzema went through on goal. His effort, however, was half saved by the onrushing Enyeama, with Victor Moses running back to make a goalline clearance.
Yohan Cabaye then smashed a shot off the crossbar as the French continued to up the pressure and the Africans began to tire.
The breakthrough was finally made on 79 minutes. Enyeama, impressive all afternoon, flapped at a corner and allowed Pogba to claim a precious goal for his team by nodding home.
Nigeria desperately threw men forward in search of an equaliser and left spaces open at the back. Griezmann sealed both an impressive cameo and his team’s passage through when he forced Yobo to divert Valbuena’s cross into his own net.
France 2-0 Nigeria
Scorers: Pogba 79 (F), Yobo og 90+2 (F)
France: Lloris (c), Debuchy, Evra, Varane, Cabaye, Valbuena (Sissoko 90), Giroud (Griezmann 62), Benzema, Matuidi, Pogba, Koscielny
Nigeria: Enyeama, Yobo (c), Ambrose, Musa, Odemwingie, Emenike, Mikel, Moses (Nwofo 89), Oshaniwa, Onazi (Gabriel 59), Omeruo
Ref: Geiger (USA)