Pogba leads France through to quarter-finals

Paul Pogba struck 11 minutes from time as France edged Nigeria 2-0 to take their place in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals.

Having spent long periods of the second half on the back foot, Les Bleus turned on the style for the final 20 minutes. A flurry of missed opportunities resulted until Pogba kept his composure and Joseph Yobo, under pressure from Antoine Griezmann inadvertently added a late second. It sets up a last-eight showdown with Germany on Friday.

Both sides traded blows in a fast-paced opening, but France landed marginally more. Pogba led the charge, finishing a move that he had started by venomously volleying Mathieu Valbuena's cross towards goal. Nigeria keeper Vincent Enyeama held his ground, though, deflecting the ball behind at point-blank range.

Pogba's incisive running was matched by Blaise Matuidi, whose pass gave Valbuena time and space on the right. Mathieu Debuchy charged onto the ensuing cut-back unopposed, but was off target. The passing from the Super Eagles remained crisp in the second half, with only a final product lacking. Still, they kept coming as Peter Odemwingie, so assured on the ball, cut inside and sent a left-footed strike bouncing off Hugo Lloris. 

At the other end, Karim Benzema came alive in the penalty area after a one-two with substitute Griezmann, but as his shot squeezed past Enyeama, Victor Moses hooked off the line. A Yohan Cabaye pile-driver from the edge of the box had the crossbar shaking moments before the goal France had been threatening arrived.

Enyeama flapped at a Valbuena corner from the right and Pogba looped a header into an unguarded net. Valbuena then laid on the killer goal in added time by sweeping into the path of Griezmann, forcing Yobo to put into his own net.