⚽️ ⚽️ France Knocked Out of World Cup That It Was Hosting ⚽️ ⚽️

Yes, it is officially over for Les Bleus.

They went up against the top team in women's football, the top-ranked and the most accomplished national team, with three World Cup championships to their name. They are favored to win a fourth this year.

France and the United States were considered the top two teams of the tournament, and it is a shame that they met as early as the quarterfinal round. Even the commentators were saying that this felt more like a final, the intensity level was so high. 

To their credit, the American women were opportunistic, and took advantage of their opportunities, even though France actually held a slight advantage in terms of possession and shots on goal. But the Americans obviously found the back of the net more often.

Megan Rapinoe got the United States up early with a goal in the 5th minute. A very tough American effort on defense managed to keep that lead and make Rapinoe's goal stand throughout the first half, and well into the second.

Rapinoe added another one in the 65th minute, putting enormous pressure on a deflated and highly frustrated French side. In fact, the Americans scored a third goal, or seemed to, but it was disallowed because of an offside. Had it stood, it would have iced the game considerably earlier.

The French side did answer, eventually. as the tallest played on the field, Wendie Renard, in the 81st minute, giving France a ray of hope.

But the American defense became solid once again, and the American women managed to ilk the clock. That combination iced it for the Americans, who made it to the semifinal round again, which they have never failed to reach before. The French women, meanwhile, had never gotten past the quarterfinal round, and they will have to wait another four years for the opportunity to get past that point in the next Women's World Cup.