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France vs Nigeria. FIFA World Cup Round of 16.

Estadio Nacional Mane GarrinchaAttendance67,882.

France 2

  • P Pogba (79th minute)
  • J Yobo (91st minute own goal)

Nigeria 0

    World Cup: France leave it late to edge out Nigeria and reach the last eight

    Image: France: Marching on into the last eight

    A late Paul Pogba header and an own goal from Joseph Yobo saw France to a 2-0 win over Nigeria and a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

    Didier Deschamps’ side created the better of the chances throughout an evenly-matched encounter and were able to flex their international muscles when required to get over the line.

    Nigeria had more than held their own up until the 79th minute when an error of judgement from goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama saw him flap at a set-piece and allow the ball to drop kindly for Pogba to nod into an empty net.

    Image: Paul Pogba: Put France on their way

    France then put the result beyond doubt in the first minute of stoppage-time when the lively Mathieu Valbuena wriggled away from a short corner and saw his low cross turned into his own net by an unfortunate Yobo, who was more concerned with preventing Antoine Griezmann from getting a touch.

    Les Bleus will now face Germany in the last eight, while Nigeria are still waiting to grace that particular stage for the first time.

    For much of the match, Nigeria keeper Enyeama - who plays his club football in France for Lille - had defied the French but it was his unfortunate blunder that allowed Pogba, the former Manchester United youth player who has made his name at Juventus, the chance to tip the contest in favour of his side.

    Until then, Enyeama had been heroic - not least with a brilliant reaction save after Valbuena had set up Pogba for a powerfully-struck volley.

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    With Enyeama in such form, Deschamps' France side could not afford to be wasteful and Valbuena's promptings in midfield looked the best avenue for attack. It was the Marseille midfielder who conjured a neat lay-off into Mathieu Debuchy's path only for the Newcastle full-back to send his drive wide when a goal looked odds-on.

    Image: Joseph Yobo: Put through his own net

    Valbuena's fast feet then saw France open up the Nigerians again but Olivier Giroud's shot on the turn was disappointing.

    It was not one-way traffic, however, and Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny had to be smart to block out Peter Odemwingie when the Stoke striker threatened.

    Blaise Matuidi then crunched Odemwingie and from a promising position Emmanuel Emenike blasted the free-kick high and wide. Nigeria's Fenerbahce striker then did get the ball in the net with a great finish but was flagged for offside.

    Emenike's power posed a threat to the French and he stung the hands of Hugo Lloris with a fizzing shot from 25 yards.

    As the game entered the final phase, France began to exert control, perhaps aided by Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi departing on a stretcher after a nasty late challenge by Blaise Matuidi, who was booked.

    It had been a fairly miserable game for Giroud, who had not clicked at all with Karim Benzema, and he came off just after an hour for Griezmann.

    Image: Victor Moses: Nigeria down and out

    The change had an immediate impact. Benzema's one-two with Griezmann on the edge of the box came off perfectly but Enyeama managed to take the pace out of the Real Madrid striker's shot and Victor Moses hooked it clear off the line.

    France continued to press and Benzema's cross-shot was scooped clear before Yohan Cabaye came as close as anyone had to scoring when his 20-yard strike crashed back off the crossbar.

    Finally, France made the breakthrough and it was hugely unfortunate for Enyeama that having been so impressive, it was his flap at Valbuena's corner that saw the ball drop nicely for Pogba to direct a header into the unguarded net.

    Enyeama made up for it with another fabulous stop to keep out Griezmann's fiercely-struck effort but France were not to be denied and Griezmann's step-over from Valbuena's cross saw the ball hit the unfortunate Yobo on the shin - who had broken Nigeria's World Cup appearance record - and roll into the net.

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