The United States and France will meet at 3 p.m. Eastern. Check back here for live updates.
France, the world’s fourth-ranked women’s soccer team, is no Spain, which played a much different style than Sweden, which was a far cry from Chile, which feels galaxies away from Thailand.
The United States’ task of defending its World Cup title will grow more difficult in Friday’s quarterfinal matchup in Paris against Les Bleues, the tournament hosts. Where Sweden prodded and Spain pushed, France has the class and pedigree to nudge the Americans even further toward the brink, setting up a match the world has been pining for.