Clash of the powerhouses
[caption id="attachment_39524" align="alignright" width="250"] TOP FORM: France's Karim Benzema during the round of 16 match against Nigeria in Brasilia on Monday Picture: EPA[/caption]
UNDER-FIRE Germany face rejuvenated France in tonight's World Cup quarterfinal at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana stadium in a mouth-watering clash of two European powerhouses.
This represents an acid test for Germany coach Joachim Loew with his side heavily criticised for below-par performances at Brazil 2014.
A place in Tuesday's semifinal against either Brazil or Colombia in Belo Horizonte is at stake.
"Didier Deschamps has turned France around since 2010 and we're looking forward to another classic," d Loew, who took charge after the 2006 World Cup, said.
Their 4-0 hammering of Portugal in their opening group match confirmed their status among the world's elite, but a series of unimpressive performances have seen Loew's Germans receive heavy criticism.
Having been held to a 2-2 draw by Ghana, then grinding out a 1-0 win over the USA in their final group match, poor finishing saw Germany labour to a 2-1 extra-time win over Algeria in Monday's last-16 clash.
Former captains Michael Ballack, Oliver Kahn and Lothar Matthaeus have all questioned Loew's selections with playmaker Mesut Ozil struggling and centre-backs Jerome Boateng and Benedikt Hoewedes being played out of position as wing-backs.
"That was the worst performance for years," Ballack reflected after the Algeria match, while Kahn was equally unimpressed: "This lineup isn't working any more."
Loew has a contract with the German FA (DFB) until June 2016, but a quarterfinal exit will put him under pressure to resign despite steering his side to the semifinals of the last three major tournaments.
In contrast, France have risen steadily under their coach Deschamps and are unrecognisable from their chaotic 2010 campaign in South Africa.
With Karim Benzema in top form, France are dreaming of their first World Cup title since their 1998 triumph on home soil, but their focus is solely on Germany.
"Everyone can dream, including me, but I'm a pragmatist and a realist, Tonight's game is the only thing that counts," Deschamps said.
While the Germans are struggling to find the right combinations for their fast-paced attacking game, Deschamps says his harmonious squad is a "pleasure" to work with.
Honours are even in terms of recent meetings with France claiming a 2-1 win in Bremen in February 2012, while Germany claimed revenge by the exact same scoreline in Paris 12 months later.
Both sides played down the relevance of their legendary 1982 World Cup semifinal, which Germany won 5-4 on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 extra-time draw.
The Seville game attained notoriety when Germany keeper Harald Schumacher shoulder-charged Patrick Battiston, leaving the Frenchman unconscious on the ground.
With the media quick to ask whether France can claim some World Cup revenge, both Loew and Deschamps pointed to the fact most of their respective players were not born at the time.
Germany will have centre-back Mats Hummels back after missing the Algeria win with flu, while Lukas Podolski is fit again after a thigh strain.
There is a question mark over midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who came off with cramp, but gave the thumbs down when pointing at his knee, which blighted him with tendinitis before the World Cup.
There is also a question mark over France defender Raphael Varane, who spent the night in hospital with dehydration after Monday's 2-0 win over Nigeria in the last-16.
Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho is fit again after knee problems, while it remains to be seen who Deschamps names as striker between Olivier Giroud or Antoine Griezmann. – AFP
