Paul Pogba scores as France eek it out against Nigeria

Paul Pogba celebrates scoring the opening goal

Nigeria played great but when it came down to it, it was the French who took their chances and sealed a quarter-final against Germany.

France are through to the World Cup quarter-finals after two late goals saw off the challenge of hard-working Nigeria in Brasilia.

The game ended with France strolling to victory but for a long time it looked as though the Super Eagles would get the better of the highly-rated French in a compelling match.

Both teams started the game with real purpose, France breaking forward in numbers early on and putting in some dangerous low crosses courtesy of Blaise Matuidi and Mathieu Debuchy.

Nigeria weren't without a threat themselves though and Efe Ambrose picked out Peter Odemwingie at the far post with his cross from the left-hand side. The Stoke City striker was unable to bring the ball under his spell though and Debuchy was quick to clear.

The Super Eagles then thought they had taken the lead when the dangerous Ahmed Musa's cross was stabbed home by Emmanuel Emenike in the 19th minute, only for the African's celebrations to be cut short by the linesman's flag.

The decision looked tight at the time and replays showed the Fenerbahce striker may well have been in line with Patrice Evra.

France's response to Emenike's disallowed goal was to create the best chance of the first half, Paul Pogba linking up brilliantly with Mathieu Valbuena before producing an excellent volley which Vincent Enyeama somehow kept out.

Chances proved hard to come by after that, Emenike's long-range effort being well-saved by Hugo Lloris as the teams went in level at the break.

Nigeria came out with real purpose in the second half and began pushing the French back, a series of corners keeping Les Bleus on their toes. Had Odemwingie or Musa done better with their delivery from set-pieces then it might have been a different story but too often the corners were either too deep or under-hit.

France coach Didier Deschamps can't have liked what he was seeing and, in the 62nd minute, made a crucial change, bringing on Antoine Griezmann in place of Olivier Giroud.

Odemwingie then had Nigeria's best chance of the second half in the 64th minute, cutting in from the right before unleashing a powerful low drive which Lloris did well to beat away. Odemwingie's effort was to be the African side's last real moment of note in opposition territory as France slowly began to take over.

Karim Benzema, who had been quiet up until Griezmann's introduction, went close to opening the scoring in the 70th minute when he worked a one-two with Pogba, only for Enyeama to deny him when one-on-one. The rebound off the Real Madrid man then looked as though it would roll in but Victor Moses was quick to hack the ball clear off the line.

The French were beginning to move through the gears and in the 77th minute Yohan Cabaye unleashed an unstoppable half-volley which looked destine for the top corner, only for the crossbar to deny the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder.

Two minutes later though and France made the breakthrough. Valbuena's corner was flapped at by Enyeama, the Nigeria goalkeeper inadvertently helping it on to Pogba who headed home from six yards.

The 1998 world champions then set about delivering the killer blow, Benzema forcing Enyeama into a good save as he tipped his header over the bar.

The Lille goalkeeper was called into action again five minutes later when Griezmann flashed in a strike which forced Enyeama to parry the ball behind for a corner.

The French eventually sealed their place in the quarter-finals in the 90th minute, the Nigeria defence switching off from a free-kick and allowing Valbuena to walk into the box before he fired in a cross which Joseph Yobo helped home as he tried to get to the ball ahead of Griezmann. It was tough on the Nigeria captain, who was winning his 100th cap for his country.

The result mean Nigeria will have to wait another four years before trying to reach their first World Cup quarter-final, while France march on to Rio where they will face either Germany or Algeria.