Desk Report: European sides Germany and France booked the first two quarter-final spots in the women’s World Cup from Group A on Thursday, eliminating Nigeria and Canada in contrasting fashion.

France over-ran CONCACAF champions Canada 4-0 in Bochum to assure their first ever place in the final eight, before defending champions Germany spluttered to a 1-0 win over Nigeria in Frankfurt.

A double from Gaetane Thiney (24, 60) and second-half goals from Camille Abily (66) and Elodie Thomis (83) gave France a maximum six points from two games to take top spot in the group.

Germany, also on maximum points, struggled to impose themselves against a battling Nigerian side, however, until midfielder Simone Laudehr scored the crucial goal after 54 minutes.

The stage is now set for a much-anticipated clash between the French and Germans in their final group game in front of 50,000 spectators in Moenchengladbach next Tuesday, with top spot in Group A at stake.

Germany finally imposed themselves after the break and it was the introduction of the experienced Inka Grings on 52 minutes for captain Birgit Prinz that made an impact.

Barely two minutes later, the veteran forward latched onto a free-kick and her delicate backheel fell into the path of Laudehr, who fired home in plenty of space.

Having won the 2003 and 2007 editions of the World Cup, Germany will need to raise their game if Silvia Neid’s side are going to return to Frankfurt on July 17 to contest the final.

France, who beat Nigeria 1-0 in their first match, were all over Carolina Morace’s Canada from the outset, with Marie-Laure Delie forcing a save from Erin McLeod after seven minutes.

France’s pressing paid off after 24 minutes when Thiney picked up a shot deflected off unfortunate Canadian defender Emily Zurrer to head into the net.

But after the break the French ran riot, with Thiney picking up a Delie cross to curl into the goal on 60 minutes.

The third came six minutes later after a defensive error from Canada allowed Abily to latch onto a Sandrine Soubeyrand assist to head in.

Canada skipper Christine Sinclair, playing with a ‘Catwoman’ face mask to protect her broken nose, received a knock to the face and was off the pitch as the French completed the rout against the 2003 semi-finalists.

Seven minutes from time Thomis, who a late substitute for Delie, broke through to advance past an advancing McLeod and coolly finish to the delight of the 16,000-plus crowd.