Germany have reached the last four of the Women's World Cup after beating France via a penalty shootout in Montreal.

France made a bright start to the match as they pushed for an early goal, with Elodie Thomis crossing the ball in for Louisa Necib, who could only fire wide, before Laura Georges poked an effort wide a couple of minutes later.

Germany's first real chance of the match came just before the half-hour mark when Lana Goessling set up Simone Laudehr for a volley, but Wendie Renard blocked her strike, before Sarah Bouhaddi saved an effort on the rebound from Leonie Maier.

The French side wanted a penalty a couple of moments later though as Amel Majri claimed that her shot was blocked by Anja Mittag's hand, but the referee was not convinced.

The top-ranked side in the world made a brighter start to the second half as substitute Dzsenifer Maroszan squared the ball to Celia Sasic, but her low drive was stopped by Bouhaddi.

The French keeper continued to come under pressure early in the second period as Maroszan lined up a free kick, but Bouhaddi did enough to keep it out of the top corner.

France finally broke the deadlock against the run of play with just over an hour on the clock though as Babett Peter failed to deal with a long ball into the box, nodding it into the path of Necib, who smashed it home from the edge of the box.

The German side came close to an equaliser with just over 15 minutes remaining as a loose ball in the box fell to Laudehr, but she scuffed her finish wide.

Germany were handed a lifeline inside the final 10 minutes as the official pointed to the penalty spot after Majri appeared to block Maier's effort with her hand, leaving Sasic to put her spot kick past Bouhaddi.

Claire Lavogez took a tumble in the box down the other end a few minutes later as she pushed to get a late winner for France, but the midfielder went down too easily to convince the referee.

In the 100th minute, Les Bleus were awarded a free kick on the edge of Germany's area after Annike Krahn's hand ball, but Necib's attempt was directed straight at the defensive wall.

With penalties looming, France squandered their best chance of snatching a dramatic victory as Gaetane Thiney dragged a close-range effort wide of goal.

After Germany converted their five spot kicks, it was substitute Lavogez who saw her penalty saved as Nadine Angerer reached down to her left to claw the ball away and guarantee her side's place in the semi-final.