England's Women's World Cup campaign ended in typically English heartache as Fayre White's shoot-out penalty smashed the crossbar and away from goal to hand France the place in the semi-final.
It looked as though Jill Scott's 59th minute strike would send England through to face either Brazil or the USA in Wednesday's semi but Elise Bussaglia had other ideas, hitting a superlative equaliser with just two minutes left on the clock. It finished 1-1 and went to penalties and after Karen Bardsley saved Camille Abily's first penalty England had the upper hand but misses from Clare Rafferty and White ultimately sent them home.
England made three changes to the starting line up that beat Japan, Jess Clark, Sophie Bradley and Anita Asante dropping out with the experienced Faye White, Fara Williams and Rachel Yankey coming into the starting line-up while France were without their suspended goalkeeper Berange Sapowicz, she was replaced by Celine Deville.
With little more than fifteen seconds on the clock England had the first opening, Karen Carney playing a ball over for Kelly Smith to round Deville on the edge of the area, only to see her eventual effort blocked by Laura Georges.
France's first effort on goal, a long range strike from Camille Abily, failed to trouble Bardsley as it flew well over the crossbar.
Those proved to be the only real chances of the first twenty minutes as the French looked the more confident, stroking the ball around neatly and showing pace in the wide areas compared to England's scrappy short passing and wastefulness when in possession. That is not, however, to discredit France's work in defence as they continually pressed England whenever they had the ball, forcing the mistakes from the team in white.
It was France who forced the first save of the afternoon, Gaetane Thiney striking a half volley that forced Karen Bardsley to fling herself away to her left, keeping the ball out at full stretch.
Karen Bardsley had a moment to forget in the first game against Mexico, allowing a floating long range strike to sail through her hands and into the top corner for an equaliser and with then minutes to go in the first half there was nearly another mistake from the American-born goalkeeper as she struck a clearance against Marie-Laure Delie that thankfully sailed high and wide.
The England players would have been glad to hear the half time whistle ringing through their ears, even though it was no doubt followed by strong words from manager Hope Powell. Aside from the Kelly Smith chance within the opening minute France were looking dominant, too often England found their touch lacking in midfield thus allowing the French to counter, leaving lone striker Ellen White to fend for herself as she looked to make an attacking impact on the game.
Delie was again threatening as the first half kicked off, seeing one shot blocked from inside the box before failing to hit the target with a quick shot on the turn while Thiney saw a soft shot comfortably held by Bardsley.
Jill Scott, already scorer of one header in the tournament, nearly found the opener as Rachel Unitt whipped a ball in from the left, only for the ball to loop wide of the goal, not that she had to wait too long to get the opener.
Rachel Yankey received the ball from Kelly Smith and dinked it towards the corner of the box for Jill Scott who took it inside after two France defenders misjudged the bounce and, even though she had Ellen White for company, the Everton midfielder clipped the ball over Deville and into the back of the net.
Kelly Smith was forced to turn a ball behind from inside her own box and Necib saw a free kick deflected over but the best chance of an equaliser fell to substitute Thomis, Bardsley turning a shot away before seeing the rebound cleared off the line.
With Chelsea full back Clare Rafferty high upfield Thomis found herself played in after finding the space left behind and she bombarded forward only to see her effort stopped by Bardsley's shoulder. That wasn't the end of the danger though as a French corner was swung onto the head of Leppailleur, only for Ellen White to get her head to the ball on the line, but the French weren't to be denied.
A hopeful ball into the box was only half cleared and Bussaglia, waiting on the edge of the box, delightfully bent the ball onto one post, along the line and in to send the tie into extra time.
As the first half of extra time grew on England began to play much more negatively but one opportunity did arise and it fell to Ellen White, scorer of 13 goals for Arsenal to this point in the season, but she failed to hit the target, driving wide of the near post.
Into the second period it was all France and good passing across the box lead to substitute Elodie Thomis clipping a ball over for Le Sommer whose header flashed over the top. France continued to take the game to their cross-channel rivals but despite a spate of late corners there was to be no winner and so it went to penalties.
Abily stepped up first for France and saw her effort held by Karen Bardsley, England were rocking, but up next was Kelly Smith, a player who had been limping the entire way through extra time. She held her nerve and fought the pain to smash her spot kick away and give her side the advantage.
Bussaglia and Karen Carney shared two successful penalties before Thiney clipped one in. The rock of England's defence, namely Casey Stoney, scored next meaning Sonia Bompastor had to score. She duly converted.
Chelsea ladies Clare Rafferty dragged a horrible penalty wide leaving the shoot-out in a sudden death situation and once Le Sommer scored England captain Faye White was left with a do or die penalty that she wasn't to convert as she crashed her spot kick onto the crossbar to send her team home and France into the semi-finals.
