Germany's Mats Hummels (2nd R) scores a goal against France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris during their quarter-finals at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Reuters Germany's Mats Hummels (2nd R) scores a goal against France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris during their quarter-finals at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Reuters
Germany's Mats Hummels celebrates after scoring the only goal of the quarter-finals match against France at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro . Reuters Germany's Mats Hummels celebrates after scoring the only goal of the quarter-finals match against France at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro . Reuters
France gaze at better future
Live: France 0 - 1 Germany (FT)
Germany's Mats Hummels (3rd L) celebrates after heading to score against France during their 2014 World Cup quarter-finals at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro July 4, 2014. Reuters
The defender scored the only goal of a match neither team ever took control of when he headed in a free kick from Toni Kroos after 13 minutes.
In a game of few clear chances, Germany keeper Manuel Neuer denied France a chance of an extra 30 minutes when he blocked Karim Benzema's effort deep into stoppage time.
Germany, the first country to qualify for four successive semi-finals, will meet either hosts Brazil or Colombia in the semi-final next week. The South Americans meet in the second quarter-final of the day in Fortaleza (2000GMT).
"It wasn't easy today. It was brutally hot, especially in the sun. We did it as a team," said Germany captain Philipp Lahm.
France's Patrice Evra (L) fights for the ball with Germany's Thomas Mueller during their 2014 World Cup quarter-finals at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro July 4, 2014. Reuters
"We were well organised. These were two good teams against each other. We got the first goal and they had to come to us. It's clear that you're not going to have an easy opponent in the quarter final."
France coach Didier Deschamps rued a game that got away from his side.
"We had our chances. But they had more experience than we did. They had us under control and they controlled that one goal lead well," he said.
"It's unfortunate. But our team isn't used to big meetings like this. The difference wasn't that big today between us and Germany. But they advanced."
France's Karim Benzema tries to score against Germany on the last minute of their 2014 World Cup quarter-finals at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro July 4, 2014. Reuters
Germany did just enough to reach the last eight and Joachim Loew's side will have to play much better to reach their first final since 2002.
The three-time winners went ahead when they won a free kick on the left after Paul Pogba fouled Kroos who took the free kick himself and swung a perfectly flighted ball towards Hummels.
The centre back launched himself at the ball and held off defender Raphael Varane in the same movement and powerfully flicked the ball in with it grazing the underside of Hugo Lloris's bar for his second goal of the tournament.
France took time to respond but came close to an equaliser in the 34th minute when Mathieu Valbuena shot from close range but was denied by a superb save from Neuer who turned the ball away with his left hand.
Either because of the sun beating down from a cloudless sky or because of the tension of the occasion, neither team played well, although France were particularly poor.
France team fans react as they watch the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals soccer match between France and Germany at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, on a giant screen outside the city hall in Paris July 4, 2014. Reuters
Both made error after error and the game rarely set the pulses racing until the last 15 minutes as France desperately searched for the equaliser that never came.
Substitute Andre Schuerrle, who replaced Miroslav Klose after 67 minutes, should have doubled Germany's lead but his low strike was blocked by Lloris.
Klose will have to wait another day for a tilt at becoming the outright highest scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals.
He shares the current record of 15 with Brazilian Ronaldo but he never had a serious attempt on target.