France has officially hit its World Cup stride.
After struggling early in group play, the French have rebounded to secure a spot in the quarterfinals with a 3-0 win against South Korea on Sunday.
It was the result most expected from the French, especially after they dominated Mexico in the final game of group play and seemed to find a groove both offensively and defensively.
The win against South Korea sets up the quarterfinal match everyone was hoping to see between France and Germany. The Germans defeated Sweden on Saturday.
France appears to be piquing at just the right time. After an unexpected loss to Colombia during the second game of group play, the French have regrouped and are playing perhaps the best soccer of any team in the tournament. They have scored eight goals in the past two games after scoring just one goal in the first two games.
What made France so successful on Sunday was its speed down the flanks and its drive to the goal. Each of France’s three goals started with players beating their defenders on the flanks and finding teammates in the box. Marie Laure Delie had two goals in the effort and Eugenie Le Sommer had two assists.
Now all eyes will be on the quarterfinal game that’s going to feel more like a final. Germany is the world’s No. 1 team and France ranks No. 3. To have these teams meet in an elimination game so early in the tournament is a shame, but it was one of the inevitable matchups when FIFA decided to have four of the world’s top five teams on the same side of the bracket.
That quarterfinal also could have a profound effect on Olympic qualifying. The FIFA Women’s World Cup is the qualifying tournament to determine the UEFA participants in the Olympics. UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, represents all the sides in Europe. The top three European finishers in the World Cup earn the three Olympic berths. Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland, teams all on the opposite side of the bracket, have yet to play.
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