Football: Germany expect to win: Schurrle

Andre Schurrle says that Germany expect to win the World Cup. Photo / Thinkstock

Andre Schurrle says that Germany expect to win the World Cup after he set up their quarter-final tie against France in Rio de Janeiro.

"When you come to a World Cup with Germany you are expected to win it," the 23-year-old Chelsea forward said of the three-times world champions following their hard-fought 2-1 victory against Algeria which took them through to Saturday's game.

"We don't come here just to take part. When you have this team with these players, everyone in our country and all around the world has big expectations of us. This is always the way. We have big ambitions and we have that feeling more than ever now that we are into the last eight."

That kind of bold statement may open up the forward to accusations of arrogance but Schurrle will, given the sense that Germany appear to have got everything right in the past few years apart from winning a trophy, believe it is a justifiable claim; or at least a legitimate aspiration.

Germany exited the World Cup at the semifinal stages in 2006 and 2010 and last won it in 1990. There is growing pressure that Joachim Low's squad, and this generation, need to triumph this year to prevent them being accused of underachieving.

"You don't think about that pressure on the field," said Schurrle, who has now scored five goals in his past five international appearances after his extra-time strike against Algeria on Tuesday. "You are in the match and you just have to win the duels."

Schurrle came off the bench as a halftime substitute in Porto Alegre and made a difference with his strong running and direct style. He must now hope he is in line for a starting place against France having replaced the ineffective Mario Gotze.

"It was good for me, of course," Schurrle said. "I scored the first and I was involved in the second, so I am happy that we got through because it was a difficult match."

Given the unconvincing nature of the victory against the Algerians - with Low struggling with injuries and illness and fielding four centre-halves in defence - there are fresh doubts in the German camp.

Low has already described the quarter-final against France at the Maracana on Saturday as a "classic" encounter and it will revive memories of the extraordinary semifinal between the countries in the 1982 World Cup when Germany came from 3-1 down in extra time to win on penalties.

Schurrle acknowledged it would be difficult for them to become the first European nation to win the World Cup in South America.

Germany will have to beat France and then, possibly, Brazil (or Colombia) in the semifinals and then Argentina in the final.

"We will have to do it the hard way, but if you want to win the World Cup you have to play against every top team," Schurrle said. "It's difficult for us but maybe it's good because then you'll be under pressure all the time because every match is going to be tight."