Eight well-deserving teams hit the pitch during the quarterfinals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
It’s safe to say we saw some of the most balanced matchups of the tournament during this portion of the knockout stage, with no blowout victories.
Here are my standout moments.
Match of the tournament
Without a doubt, the meeting between Germany and France in Montreal was the highlight of the World Cup thus far. It’s one of those games you’ll keep on your PVR and watch it again down the road because it was just that memorable.
France dominated in the early going. Louisa Necib nearly put one behind German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer less than a minute in. The French midfielder would later get her side on board in the second half, thanks to a right-footed shot that took a deflection, finding the back of the German net.
Just as it looked as though France would come away with the victory, Germany evened the score in rather controversial fashion. With only six minutes left, Leonie Maier’s cross hit the arm of defender Amel Majri and Germany was awarded a penalty. Celia Sasic would easily convert and sent the affair to extra time.
French substitute Gaetane Thiney will likely have nightmares about her close range miss in extra time to give her side the victory.
The penalties proved to be especially nerve-wracking, as each team matched the other until the ninth shot. That’s when Angerer stretched out to make a finger tip save on Claire Lavogez to send Germany into their first semifinal since hoisting the trophy in 2007.
The intensity and skill displayed in Montreal was one worthy of a championship. It’s an absolute shame it had to be played so early in the knockout stage and that France is going home.
American lineup impresses
With Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday sitting out their quarterfinal meeting against China in Ottawa due to yellow card accumulation, many wondered what this match would hold for the Americans.
It gave Amy Rodriguez her first start, while Kelley O’Hara and Heather O’Reilly saw minutes for the first time. All three, especially O’Hara, performed well against the Chinese. O’Hara was strong on the right side—she provided a lot of hustle and wasn’t phased after taking a hard knock to her nose, which she brushed aside like it was nothing.
While the Americans would only beat China 1-0, they also put together their strongest performance of the tournament and didn’t need Rapinoe or Holiday to do it.
The U.S. victory sets up the first-ever World Cup meeting between Hope Solo and Nadine Angerer. Now that’s an intriguing goalkeeping duel.
New beginnings loom for host
Canada’s loss to England in Vancouver closed a chapter of soccer history for the host country.
It marked the last time Karina LeBlanc would be a member of the team. Although she’s been backing up Erin McLeod since the 2012 Olympics, LeBlanc’s been a crucial leader on this side. She’s been an ambassador and spokesperson for over a decade. It’s a huge loss.
Other players are likely to follow suit. The older crew—the one time nucleus of the team—will soon step aside to make space for the youngsters. Youngsters Ashley Lawrence, Kadeisha Buchanan and Jessie Fleming have opened a door and have bright futures ahead of them.
In the grand scheme of things, the tournament as a whole will be viewed as a successful one for the Canadians: they made the knockout stage, sold out stadiums and inspired a new generation of footballers in a land where hockey is king.
Late heroics by defending champs
You can just call Japan’s Mana Iwabuchi a super sub, because her goal in the 87th minute proved to be the difference maker against the gritty Australians.
Japan’s patient style of play, along with the heat at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium, eventually wore down the Matildas, who deserve plenty of kudos for sticking with the defending champions for as long as they did. Given the temperature, the pace of the game slowed. That’s certainly not meant to be a knock on either team. It was just a product of the conditions they were playing in.
Japan continues to roll. Their record at this World Cup is a perfect 5-0 and they’ve only conceded two goals. That momentum bodes well for them in the semifinals versus England.
For Australia, they leave Canada with their heads held high after making their deepest run in tournament history. Post-match, coach Alen Stajcic said the result would help them grow.
“It’s a heart-breaking experience for all of us, but sometimes you learn the most from these experiences,” Stajcic said.