Schürrle, Özil finish the job

Andre Schürrle's back-heeled finish just two minutes after the start of extra time did what 90 minutes of football in Porto Alegre could not: It separated Germany and Algeria.

After Thomas Müller wriggled free down the left flank and crossed low, Schürrle had cut into the center from the right flank to receive the delivery, flicking it past Rais M'Bohli in Algeria's goal. Amid tiring legs, Germany enjoyed more and more chances in extra time, without managing to captialize. Even when Mesut Özil finally shot Germany 2-0 ahead in the 118th minute, he and Thomas Müller both appeared unwilling to apply the finishing touch as they traded passes in the box.

Algeria even struck back to make the final score 2-1 with Abdelmoumene Djabou beating Manuel Neuer from close in. With scarcely 60 seconds left, however, Algeria could not launch a realistic push for an equalizer and penalty shootout.

No German breakthrough late in second

Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Müller and Andre Schürrle all had excellent chances to put the Germans ahead late in regulation time, but the score stayed 0-0 after the full 90. Müller fired just wide with a toe poke in the area, while Schweinsteiger had two headed opportunities from close in - one created by Müller and the other by captain Philipp Lahm. Germany went into extra time with just the one personnel change still available, having made a tactical and an injury-prompted substitution.

Andre Schürrle had taken to the field at half time for Germany in place of Mario Götze, as coach Joachim Löw sought to unlock an aggressive and effective Algerian side. Later in the second half, surprise choice at right-back, Shkodran Mustafi, went off injured, forcing coach Joachim Löw to move Lahm back into the back four and bring Sami Khedira into defensive midfield.

First half controlled by Algeria

The German defense suffered a string of early scares as Algeria pressed furiously and countered with pace. Manuel Neuer left his goal to mop up a long ball but misjudged its distance; Islam Slimani was able to reach the ball first, yet Germany's goalkeeper - way out of his area - was able to shepherd Slimani out of bounds like a more typical defender to avert the danger.

Sofiane Feghouli was the next to break through the German ranks, without finding a finish. Algeria even scored around 15 minutes into the match, but Slimani's diving header was correctly ruled as offside.

The Germans were struggling to find the final pass despite a lot of early possession, with attacks often breaking down out on the flanks. Bastian Schweinsteiger provided Germany's first shot on goal, a left-footer from outside the box ably parried by Rais M'Bohli, Neuer's opposite number. Thomas Müller also failed to make proper contact with a Shkodran Mustafi cross, heading the ball wide of goal.

Later in the first half, Germany began to gather themselves defensively and create some chances. Mario Götze's close-range effort, denied by M'Bohli, was probably the best of the bunch, with several others like Mesut Özil and Toni Kroos firing speculative long-shots toward the Algerian goal.

Dortmund DNA missing

Germany took to the field without a single Borussia Dortmund player against Algeria. With Marco Reus injured ahead of the competition, defender Mats Hummels was ruled out of Monday's game with the flu.

As a result, Jerome Boateng slid into the center of the German defense, and young Shkodran Mustafi of Sampdoria took up Boateng's spot on the right of defense.

A former Dortmund player, Mario Götze, returned to the German starting 11 in place of Lukas Podolski, who had started in the 1-0 win over the US. Thomas Müller, with four goals on his World Cup tally, will again lead the line as a "false nine."

Miroslav Klose's chance at a historic 16th World Cup goal, which would put him ahead of Brazil's Ronaldo, will come off the bench, if at all.

Germany XI: Neuer; Mustafi, Mertesacker, Boateng, Höwedes; Lahm, Schweinsteiger; Özil, Kroos, Götze; Müller.

Algeria XI: M'Bohli; Ghoulam, Belkalem, Halliche, Lacen, Feghouli, Slimani, Soudani, Taider, Mandi, Mostefa.

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