Germany survive Algeria scare to reach last eight

Germany will face France in the quarter-finals, but it took extra-time goals from André Schürrle and Mesut Özil to deny Algeria in Porto Alegre.

Les Fennecs threatened the shock of the FIFA World Cup as they took the game to their opponents. They dominated the first half, and while the second period was more even it was anybody's tie going into the additional 30 minutes. The stretching Schürrle quickly made it Germany's, somehow directing Thomas Müller's low cross into the net. Özil doubled the advantage a minute from time but still Algeria would not be beaten, Abdelmoumene Djabou sliding in to make it 2-1.

It was some end to what many predicted that this tie would be the most one-sided of the round of 16 fixtures. For large parts of the first half it was – only not the way anyone expected. Spearheaded by Islam Slimani, Algeria were superb, picking holes in a Germany defence weakened by Mats Hummels' absence with flu.

Three times in the opening 20 minutes they came close to breaking the deadlock. Slimani was the chief threat. It took the awareness of Manuel Neuer, well outside of his box, to deny him on the break, and though he did beat the keeper with a low header, he had strayed just offside to meet El Arabi Soudani's brilliant cross.

Faouzi Ghoulam, too, lurked ominously and the only negative for Vahid Halilhodžić approaching half-time was that his side had not capitalised. Germany so nearly made them pay four minutes before the break, Raïs M'Bolhi coming to Algeria's rescue to keep out Toni Kroos and Mario Götze.

A breathless second period was more even, with Germany starting and ending the half strongly and having to resist an Algerian resurgence in between. M'Bolhi held firm but his resolve was soon broken in extra time and Özil's strike, on the break, proved decisive. France are next.