France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris fails to stop a shot by Germany's Mats Hummels as he scored his side's first goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Germany and France at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, July 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) (The Associated Press)
RIO DE JANEIRO – Mats Hummels headed in a free kick to give Germany a 1-0 lead over France in an all-European quarterfinal match at the World Cup on Friday.
The center back, recalled to the Germany team after a bout of flu, outmuscled his marker, Raphael Varane, to get to an inswinging free kick by Toni Kroos and glanced a header in off the crossbar in the 13th minute.
France started nervously, particularly at the back, but looked dangerous with balls over the German defense. Mathieu Valbuena had France's best chance parried away by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
The more experienced German lineup had more robust appearance in muggy conditions at Maracana stadium after making a slew of changes following a sloppy 2-1 second-round win over Algeria.
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