Germany beat France 1-0 and secured itself a place in World Cup history on Friday, by qualifying for the semifinals for the fourth straight FIFA World cup tournament.
A goal from Hummels in the 13th minute was enough to seal the contest at the iconic Maracana Stadium and the Germans will now face the winner of Friday’s other quarterfinal between host nation Brazil and in-form Colombia, in Fortaleza.
No other nation has shown the level of historic World Cup consistency as that managed by Germany, and it swept to yet another last-four place here.
Karim Benzema had one final chance to equalize for France, with only a minute to go in stoppage time, but his fierce left-footed strike was comfortably parried by the German goalkeeper.