Germany scraped through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup after surviving a real scare against Algeria on a thrilling night of football in Porto Alegre.
Andre Schurrle and Mesut Ozil scored as Germany won 2-1 after extra-time, bu t for much of the night it seemed Joachim Low's men were heading for what would have been the shock defeat of the tournament so far.
Algeria spotted Germany's vulnerable high-line defence from the first whistle and took advantage with a series of long-ball counter-attacks.
Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer played sweeper for much of the match in the Estadio Beira-Rio, racing out of his box to clear on four occasions.
Islam Slimani was a constant threat for the African nation, who looked like World Cup contenders, rather than knockout stage debutants.
Sofiane Feghouli and Faouzi Ghoulam were guilty of missing first-half chances for Algeria and Mehdi Mostefa also shot wide in extra-time.
Rais M'Bolhi had a superb game in the Algeria goal, saving from Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Schurrle in normal time.
But his efforts to avenge the 1982 'Disgrace of Gijon' - when West Germany and Austria conspired to eliminate Algeria from the World Cup - were ultimately ended by Ozil, who swept home in the second period of extra-time.
Abdelmoumene Djabou scored in the 120th minute, but Algeria could not find another as a massively relieved Germany sealed a quarter-final meeting with France in the Maracana.
Source: PA
