BRASILIA, Brazil - After being touted as one of the World Cups entertainers, it was a gritty performance which got France through to the quarterfinals in a 2-0 victory over Nigeria on Monday. Frances forward line had made headlines with eight goals in its opening two group games, but there was little flair on display in a hard-fought contest against the African champions. France needed a late header from midfielder Paul Pogba and an injury-time own goal from defender Joseph Yobo to overcome a robust Nigeria. The reward is a quarterfinal against Germany on Friday at Rio de Janeiros Maracana stadium, following the Germans 2-1 victory over Algeria. Pogbas goal in the 79th minute followed Nigerias best spell of the match and came soon after France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had made a crucial save to deny Peter Odemwingie. "Were not the prettiest or the best, but we can do good things," France coach Didier Deschamps said after the game. "The deliverance came late. There was a lot of tension because we were up against a very athletic side and there were a lot of challenges." Nigeria, which had a goal ruled out for offside in the 19th minute after Emmanuel Emenike poked home Ahmed Musas cross from the left, wasted a lot of second-half possession. Four years ago, France crashed out of the group stage, shamed a nation by going on strike and was jeered by its own fans and lambasted by politicians in the fallout from an embarrassing tournament. Its very different situation now. "Im proud of my players because were coming back from very far. I think weve given a lot of pleasure back to our fans," Deschamps said. "I think there were 5,000 here and millions back home who will feel proud." Pogbas crucial goal came after Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama had just made a superb save to tip over Karim Benzemas header. But he he flapped at the ball from the ensuing corner and Pogba pounced in the 79th minute for his first World Cup goal. That atoned for placing a volley too close to Enyeama in a scrappy first half. Scoring such a crucial goal will boost his confidence heading into the last eight game. "We have four days left to prepare for another battle," Deschamps said. Yobo, who announced his international retirement after the game, turned the ball into his own net in stoppage time under pressure from France substitute Antoine Griezmann. At the final whistle, Frances relieved players danced in front of their fans as dreams of a repeat run to the final — just like in 2006 — moved a step closer. "We had the whole country behind us," Pogba said. "Its one of the proudest moments of my life." France started slowly and finished strongly in the second round match. "Ive yet to see a team play well over the whole 90 minutes," Deschamps said. "Nigeria dropped off a bit and that allowed us to get on top." After Griezmann came on, Benzema finally came alive in the 70th, opening up the defence after a clever one-two with the France substitute. After Enyeama blocked Benzemas initial shot, his follow-up effort was hacked clear by Victor Moses. Video technology confirmed that the ball had not crossed the line. France failed to show the attacking flair of previous games, with Giroud skewing a shot wide early on. He also appeared to elbow John Obi Mikel in an off-the ball incident, having done the same in last weeks 0-0 draw with Ecuador after coming on as a second-half substitute. "The referee saw it and didnt even give him a warning. Not a yellow card, nothing," Mikel said. "The intention was there." Keshi was highly critical of American referee Mark Geigers handling of the game. "The ref is a human being, but a lot of mistakes were questionable," he said. "Giroud elbow, Pogba foot up ... he decides what happens on the field. Im not happy with the ref." Two chances were missed late in the half. Full-back Mathieu Debuchy smacked a shot wide and into the back of a steward, and Emenike saw his sharp drive from the edge of the area palmed away by Lloris. With Nigeria starting to dominate possession, Deschamps made a key change in the 62nd, taking Giroud off and bringing on Griezmann, freeing Benzema to play through the middle. Nigeria continued to push forward and centre half Laurent Kocielny cut out Musas dangerous cross from the right. But toward the end, it was all France as Griezmann boosted the attack. He almost made it 2-0 in the 85th that Enyeama tipped over brilliantly. Instead, it fell to Yobo to inadvertently add Frances second goal. ___ Lineups: France: Hugo Lloris; Mathieu Debuchy, Raphael Varane, Laurent Koscielny, Patrice Evra; Paul Pogba, Yohan Cabaye, Blaise Matuidi; Mathieu Valbuena (Moussa Sissoko, 94th), Olivier Giroud (Antoine Griezmann, 62nd), Karim Benzema. Nigeria: Vincent Enyeama; Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo, Joseph Yobo, Juwon Oshaniwa; Ogenyi Onazi (Ruben Gabriel, 59th), John Obi Mikel; Ahmed Musa, Peter Odemwingie, Victor Moses (Uche Nwofor, 89th); Emmanuel Emenike. Cheap Lakers Jerseys .com) - The collective hearts of Chicago Bulls fans sank on Friday night when Derrick Rose went down with a leg injury against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Lakers Jerseys 2020 .com) - Carmelo Anthony tallied 31 points to help the New York Knicks continue their improved play of late with a 100-92 victory over a short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder squad. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/ . -- Two out of three aint bad. Los Angeles Lakers Shirts . Tyutin has missed the last nine games with an ankle injury which occurred while playing for Russia at the Olympics. The top-two defenceman has four goals and 20 assists, 30 penalty minutes and a plus-6 rating in 53 games with Columbus this season. Custom Los Angeles Lakers Jerseys . Josh Bailey had a goal and an assist as the New York Islanders earned a 2-1 win over Ottawa Wednesday, leaving the Senators five points out of a playoff spot with just five games to play and four teams ahead of them.SANTA CLARA, Calif. - San Francisco 49ers running back Marcus Lattimore is weighing his football future less than a week after returning to the practice field following a two-year struggle with a devastating knee injury from college.Coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that Lattimore is going to talk to his family and the team should know more in the coming days.Hes weighing his options, well have an announcement about that, Harbaugh said.Lattimore, San Franciscos 2013 fourth-round draft pick, practiced last Wednesday and Thursday but not Friday. He was eligible to return after Week 6.He spent his rookie season last year on injured reserve after tearing major ligaments in both knees during college at South Carolina. The serious knee injuries derailed his 2011 and 12 seasons before the Niners took a chance on him in the draft anyway. He underwent surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in 2011.The 23-year-old Lattimore wasnt around for Sundays 13-10 loss to St. Louis. Last week, he expressed how thankful he was to finally get on the field, calling it a big moment, while adding, its a blessing, thats what it is.Lattimores agent, Michael Perrett, posted on Twitter on Monday that no decision has been made on @MarcusLattimores future. Messages left for Perrett and Lattimore werent immediately returned.Lattimore hurt his right knee just before halftime of a 38-35 win by South Carolina against Tennessee in 2012, the second straight season his year was ended by a serious knee injury. Tennessee players came out as a group while Lattimore was being carted off that afternoon to wish him well and show support.Harbaugh declined Monday to share anything from his discussions with Lattimore or say how difficult it would be to see Lattimores career end after such a rigorous commitment to his rehab.Last Wednesday started the teams 21-day window to determine whether to activate him to the 53-man roster or place him on season-ending injured reserve.In interesting timing, San Francisco announced it had re-signed running back Kendall Hunter to a one-year contract extension through the 2015 season. He iss out for the season after tearing his right ACL in training camp.ddddddddddddThe 49ers coach was still trying to regroup from an ugly home loss to the Rams in which quarterback Colin Kaepernick was sacked eight times and fumbled at the goal line with 2 seconds remaining while trying to score the go-ahead touchdown.Harbaughs play-calling came into question, while running back Frank Gore defended offensive co-ordinator Greg Roman. Harbaugh reiterated Monday his faith in Roman.Were not going to be concerned what other people think or point out, Harbaugh said. What were going to do, were going to take action to improve and get on to the next ballgame. ... Were going to address the areas we need improvement and attack it.He declined to point out certain players struggles, preferring to meet with his entire team Tuesday to discuss what went wrong and how to move forward.While Kaepernick was working with a new centre, rookie Marcus Martin making his NFL debut, Harbaugh said the two didnt have issues with their timing on snaps during practice last week.For the most part it was good, he said. As you watch the tape you see where we all have fingerprints on this.And he had already watched the film a few times as of lunchtime Monday.San Francisco (4-4) knows it has work to do to make another post-season run. The Niners have reached three straight NFC championship games, but find themselves in third place in the tough NFC West — with two games against Seattle and one with first-place Arizona still remaining.There are two tough road trips the next two weeks, beginning at New Orleans this Sunday then a trip to New York.The ship didnt sink, were still in it, tight end Vernon Davis said.Notes: Harbaugh said LB Dan Skuta (ankle) and WR Brandon Lloyd (hamstring) were being examined further. ... Of Tramaine Brock, who missed Sundays game with turf toe after playing against the Broncos on Oct. 19, Harbaugh would only say, well continue to assess that.___AP Sports Writer Pete Iacobelli in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '