A 1982 clash revived as France-Germany meet in Cup

Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer clears the ball from Algeria's Sofiane Feghouli during their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game at the Beira Rio stadium in Porto Alegre, June 30, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

With Germany's defense stretched - and sometimes shambolic - this tournament, that's a department the French will aim to exploit at Rio's Maracana stadium.

Ponderous and porous, the German back line also features center backs playing as full backs, allowing Algeria's speedy forwards to cause havoc in the Round of 16 match that Germany won 2-1 in extra time. That's why Neuer was called on so many times to race out of his area and play the "sweeper" role, rescuing his defenders.

"There were some matches that were a bit more complicated," Deschamps said of Germany, also referring to the group-stage 2-2 draw with Ghana. "But this is a very solid team, very calm, with strong individual players. They like ball possession. To impose a certain rhythm, a certain style of play."

"I have a lot of respect for Germany," Deschamps added. "The team is at a higher level, at least on paper."

Deschamps will likely be wrestling with two selection dilemmas ahead of the match, chiefly who to partner with Karim Benzema in attack out of Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann.

Giroud has height and presence, but Griezmann offers guile and craft and they might be the qualities that will give the Germany defense more problems. Griezmann's game-changing substitute appearance in France's 2-0 win over Nigeria in the second round could well influence Deschamps' thinking.

There is also the question of who plays alongside Raphael Varane at center back out of Laurent Koscielny and Mamadou Sakho, the vice-captain who is fit again after a left hamstring injury.

If the French progress past the quarterfinals, they will have done better than most pundits would have predicted, especially with Deschamps having revamped the team in his two years in charge.

Though expectations have been raised back in France, there will be more pressure on Germany.

"We are not afraid of anything," Lloris said. "We are fully aware of the fact that in one match, just about anything is possible. There is no fear - (just) real pleasure, sheer joy, to be playing Germany in the quarterfinals."

And expect Neuer to continue making appearances outside the penalty area as well as inside, just like Schumacher did 32 years ago.

"Neuer has the same technical skills as the others - he can play in midfield," Germany coach Joachim Loew said. "He has great orientation, that's why we are happy for him to take some risks."