front of goal seconds later, as Rapinoe ghosted into the penalty area unmarked to slot home her second of the night after a low cross from the right.

Defender Wendie Renard gave the hosts hope of a dramatic comeback with a towering header nine minutes from time, but an equaliser was not forthcoming.

Image: Wendie Renard gives France hope with a late goal

It means the US will take on England in Lyon on Tuesday for a place in the final after the Lionesses secured a convincing 3-0 win over Norway in their quarter-final on Thursday night.

The other semi-final will be between Italy or the Netherlands and Germany or Sweden on Wednesday, with their quarter-final ties due to be played on Saturday.

France going out was also good news for Team GBahead of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

England needed to finish as one of the top three European teams at the tournament to book GB's spot in Japan and victory for the US means a semi-final place is enough to do that.