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 The Germans triumphed 5-4 in the shootout after Claire Levogez,
chosen as the fifth kicker for France, saw her low shot saved by
Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer.
Louisa Necib had put France ahead in the 64th minute but Germany
equalised in the 84th when Celia Sasic converted a penalty after
Amel Majri handled inside the box.
Germany will face the winners of Friday’s other quarter-final
between the United States and China.
The clash between the top-ranked Germans and a French team placed
third in the world was expected to be a memorable encounter and it
more than lived up to the billing.
With the quality of the two teams it could easily have been the
tournament final and the French will head home feeling they have
missed out on a real chance to win their first World Cup.
"We are very disappointed because the objective was to be on the
podium here. We weren’t able to take our opportunities,” said France
coach Philippe Bergeroo.
They certainly looked like champions during a first half in which
they dominated large sections of play, with some flowing attacking
football that produced several good openings.
The best chance of the opening 45 minutes came almost straight from
kick-off when Necib put wide from a glorious position at the back
post.
KEY SWITCH
Germany coach Silvia Neid made a key switch at the break bringing in
Dsenifer Marozsan for Anja Mittag and the move paid off
significantly.
Marozsan brought the German attack to life, forcing a good save out
of Sarah Bouhaddi shortly after Sasic had tested her with a low
drive.
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But it was the French who grabbed the lead when Necib pounced on a
poor clearance and her shot deflected off German defender Annike
Krahn and curled into the corner.
France looked to be on their way into the last four but with six
minutes of normal time remaining, Leonie Majer drove a cross into
the box which struck Majri on the upper-arm and Sasic confidently
slotted home her sixth goal of the tournament.
Both teams tired in extra-time and there were few chances created
until three minutes from the end of the second period when Gaetane
Thiney was found unmarked at the back-post but she somehow put the
ball wide from close range.
The Germans scored all five of their spot-kicks before goalkeeper
Angerer got down well to keep out Lavogez’s weak attempt.
“I think the team showed their character by the way they turned the
switch in the second half,” said Germany coach Neid.
(Reporting by Simon Evans in Edmonton; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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