France coach Didier Deschamps said his side could do better after two late goals saw off the challenge of Nigeria and put them into the World Cup quarterfinals with a 2-0 win.
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Midfielder Paul Pogba made the breakthrough with a little over ten minutes remaining, and the win was sealed when defender Joseph Yobo scored a late own goal.
Deschamps said: "A game lasts 90 minutes, and this was an opponent that played with physicality -- we had to be ready for the struggle.
"Of course we have to do better, but it's difficult to control every aspect of the game from the first to the last minute. I haven't seen any team do that."
He said his players had produced "a strong last half hour, with more dynamism and more speed," adding that he was "very proud" of them for clinching a place in the last eight.
Looking ahead to a potential clash with Joachim Low's Germany, he said: "I wouldn't mind playing against Germany, but what I'm interested in is now. We will know our opponent in the next couple of hours, and then we will see."
He praised Pogba, adding: "It is normal for him to be criticised -- part of the high-level football player's life.
"Sometimes it's unfair, but it will toughen him up a little bit. He stood up today and showed his potential, and all the credit is due to him. I did not doubt his ability to play at this level."
And he said he was feeling relaxed as France's campaign continued to gather momentum, explaining: "I sleep very well. I spend long, restful nights. It's a pleasure to be here, with the staff and the players. We live well together. What happens in work and our interactions with each other, it's all positive."
Man of the match Pogba said neither he nor his teammates were worried about the prospect of facing Germany.
"Afraid? No, why? We are the French national team," he said. "We are not afraid of anyone, and we're going to play to win and give everything."
Looking ahead to a potential semifinal against host nation Brazil, he said: "Of course we would love to play Brazil. I remember when I was young, I watched the final of Brazil and France in 1998, so there's a big rivalry. It would be a fantastic match -- but first we have to win the quarterfinal."
He said he was "happy" about the result against Nigeria, adding: "I was man of the match today, but I wish I could share it with everybody because, thanks to everybody, we won this game and I was able to win this award."
Pogba told TF1 that France had only their own inconsistency to fear and said his goal had freed France from the tension of a match in which extra time had appeared likely.
"I'm just happy, I don't have words for it. I know that there is a whole country behind us, they support us," he said. "The goal freed us up. I'm happy for the team and the whole of France.
"It's the best feeling of my career, scoring for my country. Moreover, in such an important game, it's one of the best moments of my life. It was a dream to score at a World Cup.
"We never doubted, we were confident. Our weak point is ourselves. We know that we can put on the best display or a rubbish one. Here, we all stood up to be counted."
ESPN FC correspondent Ian Holyman contributed to this report.