The first match of Day 19 saw a resurgent France side take on the African Champions of Nigeria
Take a look at the best pictures from Day 19 of the World Cup, featuring France v Nigeria and Germany v Algeria in the Round of 16.
Some fans in Brazil cheered on the Super Eagles of Nigeria, as they attempted to become only the fourth African side to reach a World Cup quarterfinalA France fan in Paris, looking ahead to both of the day's fixtures, had the French and Algerian flags painted on his face ahead of watching Le BleusThe stage was set at the Estádio Nacional in Brasília, where the temperature reached a warm, yet relatively comfortable 28 degreesBoth sides came out intent on attacking and setting a fast pace. France defender Mathieu Debuchy was all over the ball for his side early onNigeria forward Emmanuel Emenike dominated the Super Eagles surgeWhile coach Stephen Keshi looked on with a stoic eyeNigeria maintained a steady forward presence, forcing France keeper and captain Hugo Lloris to keep a constant vigilanceMidway through the first, Emenike seemed to put Nigeria up on a clever close range poke that got past LlorisYet, the goal was disallowed on a controversially close offside call, keeping the score drawn at 0-0France forced Nigeria keeper Vincent Enyeama to make his fair share of saves in the firstFrance fans in Paris continued to watch the tight action consumed in concentrationAs midfielder Paul Pogba and the like continued to break freeFrance forward Olivier Giroud attempted to make something happen for his side in the final seconds of the firstAnd much of the same kept Lloris busy on the other endYet, both sides slid into the half-time break drawn scoreless, but seemingly on the brink of notching a few throughThe match started out with a great deal of stopping and starting, as referee Mark Geiger finally decided - somewhat - to pay attention to the fouls flying around the pitchHere's a closer look at the malicious challenge made at 54'Geiger awarded the match's first yellow card - which should have been a red - to France midfielder Blaise Matuidi (#14) for a vicious ankle tackle made on Nigeria midfielder Ogenyi OnaziOnazi was stretchered off the pitch moments after, obviously in a great deal of painDespite Nigeria's blistering play in the first half, their side began to waver under a constant attack from France, which saw two near chances midway through the second. Here, forward Victor Moses barely kept the ball on the right side of the lineEnyeama then watched a shot off the foot of France midfielder Yohan Cabaye bounce off the cross-bar, inches away from putting France aheadFrance celebrated the score, which put them ahead of a deflated Nigeria side 1-0 with just over ten minutes left to playAt 79' France finally found their goal, when emerging star midfielder Paul Pogba headed a corner past Enyeama, who had mistakenly drifted forward in the boxAnd France fans could breathe easy, embracing hopes that their squad might make a run to re-claim the World Cup TitleAn own goal from Nigeria defender Joseph Yobo in the second minute of injury time drove the final score to 2-0
And the Algerians felt the same love for the day once insideWhile this Algeria fan - owing to his mask - was never not happyAnd for the second knock-out fixture of Day 19, Germany and Algeria fans gathered in Porto Alegre to watch their sides face off for a spot in the quarterfinals against FranceThe Germans enjoyed the party unfolding on their way into the Estádio Beira-RioThe Algeria bench, headed by coach Vahid Halilhodzic (R) joined in singing their country's national anthemWhich must have inspired the players in green, as they came out energetically dominating the Germans. Early on, forward Islam Slimani forced Germany keeper Manuel Neuer to come off his line and make a potentially goal-saving tackleSlimani was then distraught after referees disallowed a goal he scored at 16' owing to a very near offsideGermany's veteran forward Thomas Mueller could not have imagined his side would find themselves in this positionAlgeria defender Faouzi Ghoulam contributed to the pressure, with a shot that just missed the goal, as a nervy yet relieved Neuer looked on in the airHeading into the half at 0-0, Algeria fans held onto hope that their boys could upset the Germans, just as they did famously at the 1982 World CupAlgeria forward Sofiane Feghouli - sporting a head bandage from a knock in his previous match - continued to throw himself completely into the matchAnd Algeria goalkeeper Rais Mbholi kept his side in it, with two clutch saves against well-hit balls by Germany forward Mario GoetzeEven after a goal from Algeria forward Abdelmoumene Djabou in the final seconds, Germany escaped on top this time at 2-1, finding revenge for their 1982 defeat to Algeria by the same score. Germany will now face France in a quarterfinal match on 4 JulyHeading into the second half, the atmosphere in Porto Alegre was boomingThe German players continued to revel in frustration, as midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and company could not convert any chances nor keep Algeria from creating their ownGermany midfielder and captain Phillipp Lahm shared in his side's vexationLook who showed up to watch!Neuer kept his eye on the ball, going off the line and playing the sweeper on an amazing number of occasions. Only rarely could the fans catch the keeper with their laser pointersAlgeria midfielder Mehdi Mostefa and Germany midfielder Toni Kroos vied for the ball in what continued to be an even contestWhile Mbholi kept his side in it, performing a number of remarkable saves to maintain a clean sheetBy the end of regular time, Mueller and the rest of Germany prepared to face the extra 30 minutes, in a match that many expected they would conquer without questionWhile - at the other end - Neuer praised the work of his team-mateAnd Germany claimed their victory quickly. Less than three minutes into extra time, forward Andre Schuerrle dinked in a ball behind him to give Germany their decisive scoreSchuerrle celebrated his first ever World Cup goalOzil and Schuerrle joined together in a bit of revelry - almost a bit to quicklyMidfielder Mesut Ozil knocked another one back with just a single minute of extra time remaining to seemingly solidify Germany's victory