In a game fitting for two of the world's best teams, Germany dug deep and found a way into the semifinals of the Women's World Cup. Louisa Nécib found the breakthrough for France in the 64th minute on a deflected shot, but a late penalty from Célia Šašić tied the match. The Germans would go on to win in penalties.
The match was the most entertaining of the competition to date, with both teams playing the elite football one would expect from the number one and number three ranked teams in the world.
On the FC Bayern front, defender Leonie Maier and midfielder Melanie Leupolz played all ninety minutes for the Germans. Melanie Behringer and Sara Däbritz both made late substitute appearances. Unfortunately, Lena Lotzen didn't find her way onto the field.
Unfortunately, do to some questionable groupins by FIFA to situate the event for attendance and TV ratings, one side of the bracket is far better than the other. This means that after eliminating France, Germany will be facing the United States in the semifinals. The Americans won a relatively easy 1-0 decision over China to advance to the next round.
Germany and the USA will kick off their semifinal match on Tuesday June 30 at 7:00 PM EDT.
Germany 1 - 1 France
(Germany advances 5-4 on penalties.)
Goals
Germany: Célia Šašić (84 - penalty)
Penalties: Melanie Behringer, Simone Laudehr, Babett Peter, Dzsenifer Marozsán, Célia Šašić
France: Louisa Nécib (64)
Penalties: Gaëtane Thiney, Camille Abily, Louisa Nécib, Wendie Renard, Claire Lavogez
Lineups
Germany: Nadine Angerer; Tabea Kemme, Babett Peter, Annike Krahn, Leonie Maier; Melanie Leupolz, Lena Goeßling (Melanie Behringer 79); Alexandra Popp (Sara Däbritz 70), Anja Mittag (Dzsenifer Marozsán 46), Simone Laudehr; Célia Šašić
France: Sarah Bouhaddi; Amel Majri, Wendie Renard, Laura Georges, Jessica Houara; Camille Abily, Amandine Henry; Louisa Nécib, Élodie Thomis (Claire Lavogez 69); Eugénie Le Sommer (Gaëtane Thiney 91), Marie-Laure Delie (Kheira Hamraoui 101)