France vs Germany: Can Les Blues shatter the German dream in the battle of the European heavyweights?

France take on Germany in the first Quarter Final of this year’s World Cup at the historic Maracana Stadium. It has been a glorious World Cup until now with goals galore, attractive attacking football enthralling all and world-class goalkeeping. Tonight’s match promises the same with both teams having plenty of attacking ammunition at their disposal.

There is plenty of history between these two illustrious sides having involved in many a great games in the World Cup but no game between the two teams has been as famous(or infamous) as their historic clash in the World Cup semifinals in 1982 when West Germany came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 and win the shootout. In that game, West Germany goalkeeper Harald Schumacher became notorious for his dangerous challenge on Patrick Battiston. Schumacher’s reckless shoulder charge on Battiston was so severe that, to this day, Battiston has a cracked vertebra and damaged teeth. It became known as the Tragedy of Seville, with Schumacher, staggeringly, not even booked for the foul.

Both the teams have had Jekyll and Hyde moment in this World Cup with Germany very impressive in their first game against Portugal and in patches against Ghana and Algeria but overall they have not been at their usual high standards. Similarly, France were breath-taking against Honduras and Switzerland but have laboured against Ecuador and Nigeria.
The German camp was hit by a bout of flu but it seems that all the players will be fit to play, minus Shkodran Mustafi who will miss the rest of the tournament with a hamstring injury. Mats Hummels is set to return in defence after missing the game against Algeria with a fever. A big headache for the German manager will be where to play Phillip Lahm, in the midfield or at the right-back position.
There is no injury concerns in the French team. Antoine Griezmann might get a nod ahead of Olivier Giroud, who was rather ineffective against Nigeria in the last 16. Mamadou Sakho, who has recovered from a leg injury, is also likely to come in at the expense of Laurent Koscielny.