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All matches in the round of 16 are now over and the quarterbacks are known. As expected, France is back on track with the American favorites for a shock at the top.
- Thursday, June 27
Norway-England, 21h in Le Havre
The English have been convincing at the beginning of the competition and they will find for these quarters the Norwegians already world champions in 1995 and double European champions in 1987 and 1993. The poster promises to be tantalizing especially as the match looks very open. The English were easily defeated Cameroon 3-0 in the eighth but the qualification was more difficult for the Norwegian women who won on penalties against Australia. These 30 minutes more in the legs may make the difference.
- Friday, June 28
France - United States, 21h in Paris
Since the beginning of the competition, the prospect of a clash between France and the United States in the quarter-finals was announced and sometimes even feared. It's now official, if the Blue want to become world champion at home, they will have to get rid of the Americans in these quarter-finals. The task looks daunting because if the French won 2-1 against Brazil after the extension, their level of play did not convince observers. The Americans, on the other hand, impressed during the group stage but they struggled to keep the Spanish out of their way and beat them 2-1 in the previous round. Amandine Henry and her teammates must tell themselves that Americans are perhaps more "winnable" than they seem.
- Saturday, June 29
Italy - Netherlands, 15h in Valenciennes
Italy is the surprise of this 2019 World Cup. We did not really expect them and they validated their ticket to the quarter by winning brilliantly 2-0 against China. The Dutch had been attractive during their group matches but they had a hard time getting rid of the Japanese in the eighth. Dominated throughout the second period, the Oranjes owe their salute to a 90th-minute penalty kick allowing them to snatch a 2-1 victory. The Italians could therefore continue to talk about them.
Germany - Sweden, 6.30 pm in Rennes
The poster has something to salivate as it opposes two historic nations of women's football. Two-time world champion, the Germans are familiar with the Swedes they had met in the final of the competition in their title won in 2003. The two teams had also met in 2015 also in the quarterfinals. The Mannschaft was then easily won 4-1, the Swedes will certainly want to take their revenge even if they were less convincing than the German in the eighth by winning the smallest margin against Canada when the double champions of the world easily had Nigeria 3-0.