That was on full display Monday when Germany labored to a 2-1 extra-time win over an aggressive Algeria side to reach the tournament's quarterfinals for the ninth consecutive time.
"You don't have to play fantastic every match," Germany coach Joachim Loew said. "You have to win."
All three goals came in extra time after Algeria dominated for long stretches during the opening 90 minutes. Germany substitute Andre Schuerrle scored in the 92nd minute and Mesut Ozil made it 2-0 in the 120th before substitute Abdelmoumene Djabou pulled one back in injury time for Algeria.
Three-time champion Germany will next face 1998 winner France on Friday at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
"It was a victory of will power," Loew said. "We had major problems in the first half to organize the way we played. We made simple mistakes, which invited the opponents to start counterattacks."
Germany finally took the lead when Thomas Mueller provided a cross from the left flank that was slightly behind Schuerrle. The Germany forward dragged his left leg and backheeled the ball into the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi with no chance.
With the temperature a chilly 14 degrees Celsius (57 degrees Fahrenheit) and a light rain falling at times, the pace was high at the Estadio Beira-Rio but the goals didn't come until the end.
"Yes, we had our problems but at the end we were better and had a lot of chances," Loew said. "The important thing is to advance. ... Past champions also did not play well every match. You cannot play fantastic every match of the tournament."
Ozil thought he had put the result out of reach when he pounded in a rebound after a shot from Schuerrle was cleared off the line by defender Esseid Belkalem, but Djabou volleyed in a minute later to make the last seconds count.
Perhaps inspired by the "Disgrace of Gijon" at the 1982 World Cup, when Germany and Austria supposedly conspired to oust Algeria in the group stage, the northern African nation outmatched Germany's intensity for long stretches in an entertaining match.
Algeria was playing in the second round of the World Cup for the first time and thought it had taken the lead before a goal from Islam Slimani was waved off for offside in the 17th, one of many opportunities for the Algeria striker.
"We fell just short," said Rais, who was voted man of the match. "That's why we're disappointed, because we think more was possible tonight."
At the start of the second half, Germany put Schuerrle on for Mario Goetze in an attacking midfield and came out better organized.
In the 55th, Germany captain Philipp Lahm unleashed a hard shot that an outstretched Rais did well to push wide with his fingertips.
Still, Algeria continued to produce dangerous counterattacks. In the 72nd, Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had to come out of his area to head away the danger with Slimani chasing.
In the 88th, Germany's inability to find the target turned theatrical for a moment when Mueller appeared to fall during a free kick.
Then the goals came, the rain intensified, and Germany took control.
Germany: Manuel Neuer; Shkodran Mustafi (Sami Khedira, 70), Per Mertesacker, Jerome Boateng, Benedikt Hoewedes; Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger (Christoph Kramer, 109), Mesut Ozil, Toni Kroos, Mario Goetze (Andre Schuerrle, 46); Thomas Mueller.
Algeria: Rais M'Bolhi; Faouzi Ghoulam, Essaid Belkalem, Rafik Halliche (Madjid Bougherra, 97), Mehdi Mostefa, Aissa Mandi; Medhi Lacen; Islam Slimani, Sofiane Feghouli, Saphir Taider (Yacine Brahimi, 78); El Arabi Hilal Soudani (Abdelmoumene Djabou, 100).
(AP)
