FIFA World Cup, Highlights: France Down Nigeria 2-0 to Advance to Quarters

France overcome Nigerian challenge to make it to their seventh quarterfinal in the history of the tournament. (All the fixtures) (Matchcentre)

23.25 IST: All over! France are through to the quarterfinals with a 2-0 win over Nigeria.

23.21 IST:  An own goal from Joseph Yobo makes it 2-0 for France in the stoppage time (90' + 2 minutes). That goal effectively puts an end to Nigeria's hopes.

23.17 IST: 90 minutes are done and stoppage time of five minutes have been added on. Can Nigeria pull one back in these dying moments of the game?

23.14 IST: Number of goals in FIFA World Cup 2010: 145. Number of goals in the FIFA World Cup 2014 so far: 146!

23.06 IST: GOAL! Just seconds after Vincent Enyeama made a splendid save, Frenchman Paul Pogba heads home to give France a 1-0 lead vs Nigeria in the 80th minute.

23.04 IST: France creating a host of chances but still can't find a goal! This time it was a shot from Cabaye from outside the box that knocks the crossbar and is cleared out by a Nigerian defender. 77 minutes played, nil-nil.

22.57 IST: What an chance for France! Neat little one-two helps Benzema get a shot on goal but he just about beats the Nigerian keeper. Much to his horror, Victor Moses makes a goal-line clearance. 71 minutes gone, nil-nil.

22.54 IST: In case you missed it, earlier today, Uruguay President hit out at FIFA for their four-month ban on striker Luis Suarez. Read full report.

22.49 IST:  Nigeria have been the better side in the second half and have looked like the one who would get onto the scoring sheet. France go in for an attacking change, bringing in Griezemann for Giroud. 62 minutes played, nil-nil.

22.41 IST: After an end-to-end start to the second half, Frenchman Blaise Matuidi gets the first yellow card of the game.

22.34 IST: The second-half begins with both teams eyeing for that elusive goal that could put them in the last eight.

22.18 IST: Half-time! France and Nigeria have played out a goalless first-half.

22.13 IST: Wave of attacks from both sides but their finishing move has been lacking today. First Nigerian mid-fielder John Obi Mikel fails to find the right pass into the box and then, on the counter, Giroud gives the ball away after receiving a pass in a tricky area. Two minutes of added time in the first half.

22.05 IST: French striker Karim Benzema has scored nine goals in his last nine appearances, including three goals in his three appearances at this World Cup.

21.58 IST: Half-an-hour played in the game so far and it has been a tight fixture so far. Nigeria are doing well to give France a run for their money.

Paul Pogba in action against Nigeria in FIFA World Cup

© AP

21.52 (IST): Oh what a save! The Nigerian keeper Enyeama has shown exceptional reflexes to deny Pogba! Pogba can't believe his volley did not end up at the back of the net. 21 minutes played, nil-nil.

21.51 (IST): Despite the disallowed goal, Nigeria have had a livelier start so far. They have bossed possession (58 %) so far. 21 minutes played.

21.48 (IST): GOAL! Oh no, offside! Emenike gets his touch past the French goal-keeper but the linesman has ruled him off-side. Replays suggests it was an excellent call. 19 minutes gone, nil-nil.

21.47 (IST):  16' Emenike wastes a free-kick opportunity as he fires it high into the stands.

21.46 (IST): Matuidi commits a foul on Nigerian striker Peter Odemwengie to concede a free-kick from a dangerous position outside the box.

21.45 IST: Another French attack and Olivier Giroud turns around to take a shot but he fires it high in the stands. 15 minutes gone, nil-nil.

21.42 IST: 11' Paul Pogba surges forward from the mid-field and beats a couple of men in the white jersey but loses possession just outside the box. Nigeria counter well and striker Emenike is fouled on the edge of the box.

21.39 IST: This could be a game of mid-fields!  At the moment, both France and Nigeria have squandered away possession to the oppositions on a couple of occasions but the resulting attacks haven't fetched a goal. 10 minutes gone, nil-nil.

21.36 IST: France have made their attacking intent very clear early on in this game but Nigeria are looking pretty solid at the back. Their game, at the moment, seems to revolve around counter-attacks. Six minutes played, no goals yet.

21.32 IST: Nigeria have never gone past the round of 16. The last two times they reached the round, they were knocked out by Italy (1994) and Denmark (1998).

21.31 IST: France have made more attempts on goal (50) than any other team in the group stages! They will hope to continue that against a stubborn Nigerian defence.

21.23 IST: The teams are out in the middle for the national anthems. The last five times when France have progressed past the first round, they have gone on to reach the semis (1958, 1982, 1986, 1998 and 2006).

The French team has come a long distance from a humiliating show in the last World Cup. The protests are long over and while fans may be only slowly warming up to them again, the team has delivered commanding performances in this edition of the World Cup so far.

 

The French team has shown fighting spirit and would look to last the distance.

© AFP

Karim Benzema - with three goals - once again emerges as the player to watch out for. He helped his team finish Group E matches with seven points and as many as eight goals overall.

Nigeria on the other hand finished second in Group F. This team - like the French - have had to deal with player unrest previously but have managed to fill in the fissures and display smooth skills on the ball. Ahmed Musa would be the man to watch out for.