(Reuters) - Germany and Algeria were goalless at halftime in their World Cup last-16 match on Monday with the North Africans starting strongly but indebted to keeper Rais Mbolhi who made an outstanding double save.

Mbolhi first parried a shot by Toni Kroos after 41 minutes and then blocked a follow-up effort from Mario Goetze.

Algeria had the ball in the net after 17 minutes when Islam Slimani headed home a cross by El Arabi Soudani but the forward was correctly ruled offside.