Battle for European supremacy

Key players: France- Karim Benzema, Mathieu Valbuena; Germany- Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer

Hyderabad: Former champions France and Germany, who have kept tryst with destiny and meet each other in Rio de Janeiro on Friday for a place in the semifinals, have had identical progress in the ongoing edition- starting with a prolific bang and finishing the last 16 on a rather sedate note by retreating into a shell.

In the pre-quarters both the teams had to dig deep and play through extra-time to scrape through with wins over African opponents, Nigeria and Algeria. Nevertheless, the quarterfinal encounter between the European giants seems poised for exciting no-holds-barred showdown of intrigue and intensity.

Les Blues under coach Didier Deschamps are playing a possession-based attacking football, which has thus far yielded the desired results. In the circumstances, it is unlikely that Deschamps will bring in any changes to the winning tactic. The coach prefers a 4-3-2-1 with Yohan Cabaye sitting deep in the mid-field donning the role of deep lying playmaker.

Karim Benzema had a superb outing as a striker netting a hat-trick against Honduras but he looked off-colour in left winger position with the tall Olivier Giroud playing as striker. Deschamps might revert back to play Benzema as striker and start with Antoine Griezmann on left, as the Germans are well equipped to deal with the aerial prowess of Giroud.

Germans, who were playing natural central defenders as full backs looked vulnerable against quick wingers. France will to look to unleash crafty and quick wingers Mathieu Valbuena and Griezman to pounce on the apparent weakness.

Coach Joachim Loew has serious injury concerns, though Mats Hummels has recovered while right back Shkodran Mustafi has been ruled out from tournament with hamstring injury. Bastian Schweinsteiger limped off after the match against Algeria and it is unlikely that he will start the game. Sami Khedira too is nursing an injury and is a doubtful starter.

The powerhouse midfield had a bad outing against Algeria and defence was in disarray. Per Mertesacker has to thank goal keeper Manuel Neuer, who swept off through balls as he was repeatedly caught on the wrong foot. Hummels recovery will bolster defence but Loew will have to address the pressing concern as Benzema would be a tough and quick customer to deal with.

France does not boast of a solid defence, the full backs Mathieu Debuchy and Patrice Evra and midfielders Matuidi and Pogba commit themselves to attack, leaving Cabaye and the defensive pair of Raphael Varane and Mamadou Sakho to fend off the attacks. Germans, though,rely heavily on the exploits of Thomas Muller, who has been among the few top performers to deliver in this championship.

Germans have to regroup following the injury crisis and the under-performing forwards have to come good against the formidable French.

Both the teams have faced head to head 25 times with France winning 11, Germany 8 and six matches ending in a draw. The match will be a high scoring encounter and could be decided by penalties, which has become some sort of an established norm, this time round. French has a completely fit squad which gives them an advantage over injury ridden Germans.

Probable Lineups: France: Hugo Lloris, Mathieu Debuchy, Raphael Varane, Mamadou Sakho, Patrice Evra, Yohan Cabaye, Blaise Matuidi, Paul Pogba, Mathieu Valbuena, Antoine Griezmann and Karim Benzema; Germany: Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, Per Mertesacker, Benedikt Howedes, Philip Lahm, Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil, Mario Gotze, Lukas Podolski and Thomas Muller