Joachim Löw demanded that his defenders held an extremely high line against Algeria – the Germany manager could be seen ordering them from the touchline to squeeze up – and it felt like a risky policy, especially as none of them have any real pace. France will surely seek to play runners through them in Friday’s quarter-final. They will find, as Algeria did on Monday, the imposing figure of Manuel Neuer, who Löw described afterwards as a goalkeeper-cum-sweeper. Neuer’s bolts from his line triggered alarm at times, particularly the first one of the last-16 tie, when the Algeria striker Islam Slimani got around him only for his angle to goal to prove too tight. It always feels a little worrying when a goalkeeper makes a sliding tackle outside of his area, as Neuer did. On the other hand, his timing was generally excellent. “Neuer played an extraordinary game,” Löw said. “He didn’t have to make saves on his line but he participated in the game. With all those long passes from Algeria, he saved us very often. He played as a libero. He delivered for us.” David Hytner  So the Fennec Foxes bow out with their heads held high and with them ends Africa’s involvement in Brazil, in playing terms at least. Algeria, it’s fair to say, will look back on the tournament as an historic one – their first progression to the knockout stages at last arriving 32 years late – but what for the continent as a whole? On one hand, it was a new high – the first time two African sides have reached the last 16 (and Ivory Coast were only an injury-time Georgios Samaras penalty away from making it three). On the other hand, with both Algeria and Nigeria being knocked out, it’s the second time this century that no African side has reached the quarter-finals. The quirks of the draw? (After all, there were easier ties to be had in the last 16 than France and Germany). Or has African football taken a step backwards in this World Cup? John Ashdown  When France check the tape of the riveting game between their quarter-final opponents, Germany, and Algeria, the room for manouevre will be staring them in the face. Specifically, it’s all that room between Die Mannschaft’s high-line defence and the gigantic figure of their sweeper keeper, Manuel Neuer, which was there to be exploited. France have scored 10 goals in this World Cup (only Holland and Colombia have been more prolific) but where Algeria were able to get at Germany with their audacious pace, France’s creativity is based more on passing in search of openings. Deschamps has tried a number of different attacking blends – in fact in each of France’s four matches he has picked a different combination out of Karim Benzema (who has played every time), Mathieu Valbuena, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and Moussa Sissoko. France’s speediest outlet is Loïc Rémy, so that is even another option for Deschamps to consider at some point. Having said that, France had their own defensive wobbles against Nigeria, and were also given a fright with pace running at their backline. This battle of European heavyweights with some similar strategic characteristics is intriguingly poised. Amy Lawrence  It is the end of Nigeria’s World Cup and it looks like being the end of an era for the Super Eagles. Joseph Yobo, who won his 100th cap in the 2-0 defeat against France in Monday’s last-16 tie, is retiring from international football and both Vincent Enyeama and Peter Odemwingie have indicated that they are giving serious consideration to following suit. Enyeama, who will turn 32 in August, would be the natural choice to take over from Yobo as captain, and it would be a real shame if his international career came to end not only so soon but in a game where he was at fault for one of the goals. The Lille goalkeeper, who has been a wonderful servant to Nigeria and produced some outstanding saves in this World Cup – including against France – deserves better than to go out on a sour note. He also would appear to have plenty more to offer at this level. Stuart James  For all that Thomas Müller is for Germany, a thespian he is not. Whether his stumble during Germany’s elaborate free-kick – at 0-0 with 86 minutes on the clock – was intentional is somewhat irrelevant, the routine was always distinctly lacking in subterfuge. Müller, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos were more three stooges than three musketeers and rather than producing a swashbuckling winner, the trio were left rather red-faced in Porto Alegre. Perhaps they can be forgiven for trying something different though. After all, 147 goals had been scored at the World Cup up until that point and only two of them were direct free-kicks – Lionel Messi’s delightful effort against Nigeria and Blerim Dzemaili’s daisy-cutter against France. Four years ago in South Africa, five free-kicks found the net even with a ball that was inexplicably “too round”, while the total was nine in both 2006 and 2002. There have been some near misses this time around – notably Andrea Pirlo’s swerving effort off the bar against England – but perhaps the problem is the magic spray, containing a mixture of butane, isobutane and propane gas, a foaming agent, water, other chemicals and seemingly a hint of kryptonite too. Gerard Meagher
Guardian writers: Germany’s sweeper keeper, Algeria restoring African pride and considerations for France as they head into the quarter-finals