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Women’s World Cup: 5 players to watch in USA vs France quarterfinal

By Coley Gallagher

REIMS, FRANCE - JUNE 24: #3 Samantha Mewis of USA competes for the ball during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Round Of 16 match between Spain and USA at Stade Auguste Delaune on June 24, 2019 in Reims, France. (Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images)
REIMS, FRANCE - JUNE 24: #3 Samantha Mewis of USA competes for the ball during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Round Of 16 match between Spain and USA at Stade Auguste Delaune on June 24, 2019 in Reims, France. (Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images) /
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LE HAVRE, FRANCE – JUNE 23: #16 Sarah Bouhaddi of France saves the ball during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Round Of 16 match between France and Brazil. (Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images)
LE HAVRE, FRANCE – JUNE 23: #16 Sarah Bouhaddi of France saves the ball during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Round Of 16 match between France and Brazil. (Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images) /

4. Sarah Bouhaddi – France

Sarah Bouhaddi keeps goal for France and her club team, Olympique Lyon, Europe’s most dominant women’s side. Bouhaddi has a massive wingspan and split-second reaction time. She plays year round at Olympique Lyon with three of her four national team defensive teammates, giving her French side an edge other teams lack. This edge was showcased against Brazil when French and Lyon defender Mbock Bathy cleared a match-winning shot off the line after Bouhaddi missed it.

Bouhaddi has only conceded two goals in the 2019 World Cup, and one was an own goal from a poor clearance by veteran central defender Wendie Renard. Bouhaddi made a clutch kick save to deny Brazil’s Debinha a match-winning goal in France’s tense meeting with Brazil in the Round of 16. Unlike the goalkeeper on the US side, she has vast international experience against the world’s toughest teams. Bouhaddi has kept goal for France since 2005, playing in both the Olympics and Women’s Euro.

Bouhaddi has also played in high-pressure championship matches. Her Lyon side played in the UEFA Champions League final against Europe’s best pro teams seven out of the last ten years. Bouhaddi, in particular, proved her grit and determination in hard matches when she played through Lyon’s 2017 Champions League Championship match victory with a broken hand.

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