Japan knocks defending champion Germany out of the Women’s World Cup and France tops England

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World champion Germany crashed out of the Women’s World Cup in dramatic fashion Saturday night when it was upset, 1-0, in extra time by Japan in the quarterfinals in Wolfsburg, Germany.

Japanese forward Karina Maruyama scored the all-important goal in the 108th minute to knock out the host nation.

The loss ended Germany’s 15-game unbeaten streak as well as its chances of becoming the first team, men’s or women’s, to win three World Cups in a row. Germany had won the 2003 and 2007 tournaments in the U.S. and China, respectively.

In Saturday’s other quarterfinal, France tied its match against England, 1-1, with only two minutes left in regulation and went on to prevail on penalty kicks, 4-3, after extra time in Leverkusen, Germany.

In the semifinals on Wednesday, France will play the winner of Sunday’s quarterfinal between the U.S. and Brazil while Japan will play the winner of the Sweden-Australia quarterfinal.

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-- Grahame L. Jones