Germany 4-2-3-1 (Schult – Gwinn, Doorsun, Hegering, Schweers – Magull, Leopolz – Huth, Popp, Dabritz – Schuller)

Nigeria 4-4-2 (Nnadozie – Okeke, Ebi, Ohale, Nwabuoku – Ordega, Okobi, Ayinde, Ihezuo – Oparanozie, Kanu)

Germany eased into the quarter-finals with a 3-0 win over Nigeria, who were without star player Oshoala due to injury. Martina Voss-Tecklenburg lined her side up in what appeared a 4-2-3-1 on paper, though in reality – as Germany spent most of the match attacking – this looked something more akin to a 3-3-4. Nigeria defended in their usual 4-4-2. While they used this system successfully against France, Germany’s attacking structure is more fluid than the French and this caused problems.

Leupolz dropped deep between the centre-backs when Germany were building out from the back, while Magull stayed in a more advanced central position. This created a 3v2 against the Nigeria front two, giving Germany a numerical advantage to help them play around the opposition first line of defence. Generally, Leupolz would distribute to one of the centre-backs, who would then carry the ball forward around Oparanozie and Kanu.

Defensively, Nigeria’s midfield four were heavily man-oriented, so the wingers were dragged deep by the forward movements of Germany’s full-backs. This had the effect of limiting the pressure Nigeria could get on the ball, dragging their defensive block deep and creating more space for the German centre-backs to drive forward with the ball into the middle third.

Once there, Germany looked to bring their forwards into play. Their front four – Huth, Popp, Schuller, Dabritz – all took up positions in the central and inside channels and looked to create problems for the Nigeria back four.

One route forward was for Germany to play balls over the top of Nigeria’s defence. With Magull, Leupolz and the centre-backs generally having time on the ball to pick a pass, they could look up and play unopposed balls over the top of Nigeria’s back line for their quick forwards (Huth and Schuller, mainly) or potentially one of their full-backs, to chase in behind. With so many players looking to attack the opposition last line at various angles, Germany always had a number of different options to hit with these passes and go over, around or through the Nigeria defensive line. And, if Nigeria headed the ball away, Germany had good presence to win the second balls, with Popp, Dabritz and Magull pushing up, and continue the attack from a more advanced position.

Another, less direct, route for Germany was to use opposite movements to enter the final third through short passes. While at least two of their forwards were always looking to get in behind Nigeria’s defensive line, others could drop off the front line and move away from goal. These opposite movements – one player runs forward; another player simultaneously moves backward – created a dilemma for Nigeria’s defenders. If they looked to stay deep or track the forward run of, say, Schuller, this gave time and space to Popp, who dropped into deeper areas looking to receive the ball to feet.

Nigeria showed good counter-attacking threat in the group stages, but Oshoala and her qualities in the final third were a big miss for them here. While Oparanozie made some good runs and held the ball well in transition to keep the counter-attack going, and Ordega’s dribbling was always a threat, Nigeria’s decision-making was poor and led to counters petering out. Too often the ball-player lingered, took too many touches, or failed to execute the penetrative pass.

Given counter-attacking was Nigeria’s one viable route to goal in open play, and it didn’t work out at all consistently, they stood little chance of stopping Germany here. This, along with the Germans finding their feet in possession, ensured them of a comfortable win.