England won against Norway, USA beat hosts France, Netherlands progressed against Italy and Sweden shocked Germany in the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup.
Norway 0-3 England
England's Lionesses became the first English side to make three consecutive semi-finals at major tournaments with their last eight win over Norway.
The win meant Phil Neville's side reached their second consecutive World Cup semi-final, with two team goals giving his side a 2-0 lead at the break in Le Havre.
Jill Scott found the net inside three minutes from Lucy Bronze's cutback from the bye-line - helped by a swing and a miss from Ellen White.
The goal off the post seemed to flatten Norway, who took a while to grow into the game.
1995 world champions Norway, who were playing in their sixth World Cup quarter-final, were well-beaten by a side who only seem to be getting better as the tournament progresses.
England dominated the midfield early on, and when Norway had a rare venture forward, Millie Bright and Steph Houghton were all over them, particularly Barcelona's Caroline Graham Hansen.
Nikita Parris fired wide when passing may have been a better option, before setting up White's fifth goal of the tournament, moving her into the joint lead in the race for the Golden Boot.
Her five this year added to one in 2011 means she is England's all time leading scorer at Women's World Cups with six goals.
Her form could not have come at a better time, with matches only getting tougher in the latter stages.
White had hit the post before her tap-in, with the goal coming from another great move from England's right wing.
Houghton did well to clear substitute Lisa-Marie Utland's effort off the line, having earlier intervened to deny Graham Hansen a seemingly certain goal just after the break.
Bronze capped a stunning individual performance with a brilliant goal - not too dissimilar to her finish four years ago against the same opponents.
The ball was laid back to her from a free-kick wide on the right, she scored with her first touch right over the goalkeeper's head.
What made it even more impressive was that they had tried the move once before in the match, but the referee ordered it to be retaken, thus removing the surprise from the training ground move.
The Lionesses had a chance to make it four, but Parris' penalty was brilliantly saved by Ingrid Hjelmseth after Maria Thorisdottir's foul on captain Houghton.
France 1-2 USA
Megan Rapinoe scored another brace to extend the USA's record of never failing to make at least the semi-finals at a Women's World Cup, at the expense of hosts France.
Norway 0-3 England
England's Lionesses became the first English side to make three consecutive semi-finals at major tournaments with their last eight win over Norway.
The win meant Phil Neville's side reached their second consecutive World Cup semi-final, with two team goals giving his side a 2-0 lead at the break in Le Havre.
Jill Scott found the net inside three minutes from Lucy Bronze's cutback from the bye-line - helped by a swing and a miss from Ellen White.
The goal off the post seemed to flatten Norway, who took a while to grow into the game.
1995 world champions Norway, who were playing in their sixth World Cup quarter-final, were well-beaten by a side who only seem to be getting better as the tournament progresses.
England dominated the midfield early on, and when Norway had a rare venture forward, Millie Bright and Steph Houghton were all over them, particularly Barcelona's Caroline Graham Hansen.
Nikita Parris fired wide when passing may have been a better option, before setting up White's fifth goal of the tournament, moving her into the joint lead in the race for the Golden Boot.
Her five this year added to one in 2011 means she is England's all time leading scorer at Women's World Cups with six goals.
Her form could not have come at a better time, with matches only getting tougher in the latter stages.
White had hit the post before her tap-in, with the goal coming from another great move from England's right wing.
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| Photo from Evening Standard |
Bronze capped a stunning individual performance with a brilliant goal - not too dissimilar to her finish four years ago against the same opponents.
The ball was laid back to her from a free-kick wide on the right, she scored with her first touch right over the goalkeeper's head.
What made it even more impressive was that they had tried the move once before in the match, but the referee ordered it to be retaken, thus removing the surprise from the training ground move.
The Lionesses had a chance to make it four, but Parris' penalty was brilliantly saved by Ingrid Hjelmseth after Maria Thorisdottir's foul on captain Houghton.
France 1-2 USA
Megan Rapinoe scored another brace to extend the USA's record of never failing to make at least the semi-finals at a Women's World Cup, at the expense of hosts France.
Her first came from a low free kick that somehow avoided a touch from the group of players in the box, including through the legs of captain Amandine Henry.
The goal in the fifth minute set the tone, with USA having two further shots on target in the next 10 minutes, before going on to control the first half.
Alex Morgan played through Tobin Heath down the right hand side who picked out Rapinoe making a late run into the box, who side-footed into the net.
The goal in the fifth minute set the tone, with USA having two further shots on target in the next 10 minutes, before going on to control the first half.
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| Photo from Washington Post |
France looked out of the game - and didn't have a shot on target before the break - with Crystal Dunn superbly stifling Kadidiatou Diani all game,
Wendie Renard capitalised on an absence of marking from a free kick to head home to give the hosts hope in front of a 45,595 strong crowd in the capital.
There was late controversy when Amel Majri's cross struck Kelley O'Hara's arm, an incident that may have seen a spot kick awarded earlier in the tournament, but referee Kateryna Monzul waved away the French appeals.
Rapinoe had "disrespected her country" according to US President Donald Trump, after she said she wouldn't visit the White House if they were to win the World Cup.
This came after the co-captain's two penalties were enough to see past Spain in the previous round, and Trump said Rapinoe should "win before she talks."
In my opinion, Trump's behaviour was justified, given the arrogance of Rapinoe to assume that not only would they win the World Cup, but that they would definitely be invited to the President's home.
There is a clear conflict of ideologies between the two, and Rapinoe should use the invite to the White House as an opportunity to air her disagreements with Trump in person, rather than via a video published on social media.
Italy 0-2 Netherlands
Wendie Renard capitalised on an absence of marking from a free kick to head home to give the hosts hope in front of a 45,595 strong crowd in the capital.
There was late controversy when Amel Majri's cross struck Kelley O'Hara's arm, an incident that may have seen a spot kick awarded earlier in the tournament, but referee Kateryna Monzul waved away the French appeals.
Rapinoe had "disrespected her country" according to US President Donald Trump, after she said she wouldn't visit the White House if they were to win the World Cup.
This came after the co-captain's two penalties were enough to see past Spain in the previous round, and Trump said Rapinoe should "win before she talks."
In my opinion, Trump's behaviour was justified, given the arrogance of Rapinoe to assume that not only would they win the World Cup, but that they would definitely be invited to the President's home.
There is a clear conflict of ideologies between the two, and Rapinoe should use the invite to the White House as an opportunity to air her disagreements with Trump in person, rather than via a video published on social media.
Italy 0-2 Netherlands
The Netherlands will play in their first World Cup semi-final, beating Italy 2-0 in Valenciennes.
The first half was pretty even, ending goalless, but Italy had the better chances.
Valentina Bergamaschi should have done better with two free shots in the area, but both were saved by Sari van Veenendaal.
Netherlands turned up the heat in the second half with 15 shots, capitalising on a fading Italian team.
The women's game is not fully professional in Italy, and they were well-beaten in the end.
Danielle van de Donk hit the bar with a chip from the edge of the box, and Sherida Spitse fired a free kick narrowly wide.
WSL Golden Boot winner Vivianne Miedema extended her record as Netherlands' top international goal scorer with her 61st goal, rising high to head home the first goal from a Spitse free kick.
Stefanie van der Gragt headed in another Spitse free kick less than 10 minutes later from the opposite side to seal their place in the last four.
The two assists today mean she has set up more goals at the tournament than anybody else with four.
The first half was pretty even, ending goalless, but Italy had the better chances.
Valentina Bergamaschi should have done better with two free shots in the area, but both were saved by Sari van Veenendaal.
Netherlands turned up the heat in the second half with 15 shots, capitalising on a fading Italian team.
The women's game is not fully professional in Italy, and they were well-beaten in the end.
Danielle van de Donk hit the bar with a chip from the edge of the box, and Sherida Spitse fired a free kick narrowly wide.
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| Photo from The Guardian |
Stefanie van der Gragt headed in another Spitse free kick less than 10 minutes later from the opposite side to seal their place in the last four.
The two assists today mean she has set up more goals at the tournament than anybody else with four.
Germany 1-2 Sweden
Germany were shocked against Sweden who came from behind to win.
Martina Voss-Tecklenberg's side were heavy favourites going into the match, having won the World Cup twice (2003,2007) as well as eight European Championship wins.
I addition to their roll of honour, Germany had reason to be confident based on the history of these two sides in major tournaments, with Sweden not having beaten Germany since 1995, losing four times in major finals.
The confidence showed from the start, with Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl saving Lina Magull's free kick and Lea Schuller's header early on.
It was Magull who opened the scoring for Germany with an acrobatic volley inside 16 minutes, brilliantly controlling Sara Dabritz's pass.
Sofia Jakobsson equalised soon after, running through on goal after a long ball and finishing coolly - Germany's first conceded goal.
The winner came early in the second half when Stina Blackstenius poked in from close range after Almuth Schultz in the German goal had parried Fridolina Rolfo's header.
The expected German onslaught failed to materialise and their best chance of taking the game to extra time fell to teenager Lena Oberdorf with two minutes remaining, but she headed wide of an empty net after Lindahl missed the cross.
Draw
Section One
Germany were shocked against Sweden who came from behind to win.
Martina Voss-Tecklenberg's side were heavy favourites going into the match, having won the World Cup twice (2003,2007) as well as eight European Championship wins.
I addition to their roll of honour, Germany had reason to be confident based on the history of these two sides in major tournaments, with Sweden not having beaten Germany since 1995, losing four times in major finals.
The confidence showed from the start, with Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl saving Lina Magull's free kick and Lea Schuller's header early on.
It was Magull who opened the scoring for Germany with an acrobatic volley inside 16 minutes, brilliantly controlling Sara Dabritz's pass.
Sofia Jakobsson equalised soon after, running through on goal after a long ball and finishing coolly - Germany's first conceded goal.
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| Photo from BBC Sport |
The expected German onslaught failed to materialise and their best chance of taking the game to extra time fell to teenager Lena Oberdorf with two minutes remaining, but she headed wide of an empty net after Lindahl missed the cross.
Draw
Section One
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England vs USA - 2 July, 20:00, Lyon
Section Two
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