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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Germany reached the semifinals for a fourth straight World Cup by beating France 1-0 Friday in a cagey match settled by a first-half header from Mats Hummels.

The center back headed Toni Kroos' free kick in off the underside of the bar in the 13th minute in one of the few chances created in muggy conditions at Maracana Stadium.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer punched away Karim Benzema's powerful drive in injury time to preserve the lead, having saved well from Mathieu Valbuena and Benzema in the first half.

Next up for Germany as it seeks a fourth world title will be the winner of Friday's later quarterfinal between Brazil and Colombia.

France struggled to impose its attacking game in the face of a robust, experienced Germany side that seemed more comfortable on the big stage.

It guaranteed Europe at least one representative in the semifinals — the Netherlands and Belgium also have chances to qualify on Saturday — and continued Germany's recent dominance over France at World Cups.

The most notorious of those was the meeting in the 1982 semifinals in Spain, when Germany won on penalties following a 3-3 draw in a match marked by a late and high tackle by Germany goalkeeper Harald Schumacher on France defender Patrick Battiston that escaped punishment.

That went down as one of the most riveting matches in World Cup history, but the rematch — 32 years on — couldn't have been more different.

The occasion was perhaps too much for a young, revamped France team playing together in football's marquee tournament for the first time. The attacking flair that characterized much of their play in the group stage was largely absent in the 2-0 win over Nigeria in the second-round and again here in Rio de Janiero.

Tightening up both its defense and midfield, Germany selected a more robust team after looking shaky and open in a 2-1 win over Algeria in the second round and gave France little room to play.

It meant for a turgid first half of few opportunities but Hummels made no mistake with his, proving too strong for his marker, Raphael Varane, from a typically dead-eye delivery from Kroos.

At the other end, France pierced Germany's high defensive line to produce chances for Valbuena and Benzema but goalkeeper Neuer was equal to both attackers' efforts.

The weather conditions played a part in the slow tempo of the game but France stepped up the pressure in the second half, with Neuer saving a header from Varane as the center back tried to atone for his weak defending for the goal.

Benzema's late chance got French fans excited but Germany could already have been 2-0 by then, with France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris saving a low shot by substitute Andre Schuerrle on a counter-attack.

The beach bums of Tripoli say that no matter who's in charge of Libya, they'll still be at the beach. Faisal Ali Kabi was here the night that former dictator Moammar Ghadafi was ousted, and Kabi remains, renting equipment to tourists, even as things around him change. NPR's Leila Fadel sends this postcard from Tripoli.

LONDON (AP) — Billie Jean King believes Wimbledon finalists Petra Kvitova and Eugenie Bouchard are creating one of the most exciting times in women's tennis in decades.

King ought to know. She helped start the Women's Tennis Association more than 40 years ago.

The 24-year-old Kvitova of the Czech Republic won the 2011 Wimbledon title. She'll face the 20-year-old Bouchard, who will play in her — and Canada's — first Grand Slam final on Saturday.

They're from a generation of fitter and stronger players who have "closed the gap on power and belief" with their older contemporaries, King said at a news conference during Wimbledon.

"They have definitely caught up," King said. "Women have more confidence overall, Serena (Williams) is not in the same place as she was, she's a little more vulnerable.

"The men have had their 'Top 4.' Now we've got a lot of younger women who want to be here. They like the show time."

Here are five things to know about the big show Saturday on Centre Court:

WHAT A YEAR: Bouchard was the only woman to have advanced to all three Grand Slam tournament semifinals this year, and now she's taken it another step. She's received support from her home country, prime ministers and mayors, along with "The Big Bang Theory" actor Jim Parsons. She finished 2013 ranked 32nd, and she's projected to improve to No. 7 — the highest ranking for a Canadian woman — by reaching the final. She would be the youngest Grand Slam champion since Maria Sharapova won the 2006 U.S. Open at 19.

ONLY MEETING: Kvitova and Bouchard have played just once. They faced off on hard courts in Toronto, with Kvitova an easy winner 6-3, 6-2.

NEW GENERATION: The final Saturday is the first to feature two players born in the 1990s. Kvitova is the only player born in that decade to win a Grand Slam — her 2011 title here — while Bouchard is the fourth player born in the '90s to reach a Grand Slam final. The others are French Open runner-up Simona Halep (who lost to Bouchard in the semifinals) and former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, the 2009 U.S. Open runner-up.

KVITOVA'S THOUGHTS: "Bouchard is playing very solid game. She's a very good mover. She's nearby the baseline. I think it's very similar to my game. I beat her for the first time last year, but it's long time ago. This is totally different. So, I mean, I really have to be focusing on everything and try to push her."

BOUCHARD'S PLAN: "She has good shots which are very powerful compared perhaps to opponents I played in the tournament. I think she will try to attack, but I will try to do the same thing. I think both of us will try to put pressure on each other. I think it will be important to start the points well on serve and on return. It will be the first shots that decide the match."

WASHINGTON (AP) — Celebrating the ethnic diversity of America, President Barack Obama said more than two dozen foreign-born service members who became U.S. citizens at the White House on the Fourth of July are vivid reminders that welcoming immigrants "is central to our way of life."

He pleaded anew for new immigration policies, saying the vast range of backgrounds and experiences that has made America a melting pot for more than 200 years also makes the country stronger. He argued that the system must be retooled for the U.S. to remain the greatest nation on earth.

"The basic idea of welcoming immigrants to our shores is central to our way of life, it is in our DNA," Obama said after the 25 service members representing 15 countries raised their right hands and pledged allegiance to the United States.

"From all these different strands, we make something new here in America. And that's why, if we want to keep attracting the best and brightest from beyond our borders, we're going to have to fix our immigration system, which is broken," he said. "Pass common-sense immigration reform.

The immigration issue is earning renewed attention because of the influx to the U.S. of tens of thousands of unaccompanied children from Central America. Under U.S. law, they must be returned to their home countries, angering immigration advocates who already take issue with Obama's enforcement of deportations. They want Obama to allow the children to stay.

At the same time, Obama blames House Republicans for delaying action on legislation covering the millions already living in the U.S. illegally. A comprehensive measure the Senate passed last summer has been blocked by House leaders who also have done little to advance their own immigration proposals.

Obama announced earlier this week that, as a result of inaction on Capitol Hill, he will pursue non-legislative ways he can adjust U.S. immigration policy on his own. He scheduled a trip to Texas next week, mostly to raise money for Democratic candidates, but plans not to visit the border.

"I'm going to keep doing everything I can to keep making our immigration system smarter and more efficient," Obama said Friday.

Across the country, more than 100 demonstrators, most of whom support immigrants, gathered again Friday outside a U.S. Border Patrol station in Murrieta, California, where the agency intends to process some of the immigrants who have flooded the Texas border with Mexico.

Earlier this week a crowd of protesters blocked buses carrying women and children migrants who were flown in from overwhelmed Texas facilities. The Border Patrol had to take the migrants elsewhere.

At the White House on Friday evening, Obama and his wife, Michelle, were also welcoming a larger group of service members, including the new citizens, to an all-American barbecue on the South Lawn, along with prime seating for the fireworks on the National Mall.

"Together, all of you remind us that America is and always has been a nation of immigrants," Obama told those at the naturalization ceremony.

Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a Cuban who became a naturalized citizen in 1973, administered the oath of allegiance.

At the ceremony, Mayorkas also recognized internationally known celebrity chef and restaurateur Jose Andres for outstanding achievements by a naturalized U.S. citizen. Born in Spain, the 44-year-old Andres became a citizen last November and works with soup kitchens in Washington and Los Angeles.

Obama had another reason to celebrate on Friday. His oldest daughter, Malia, turned 16.

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Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap