FOX Sports FIFA Women’s World Cup Morning Highlights – Thursday, July 2

FOX Sports’ full coverage of the FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2015™ continues tomorrow night with a special edition of FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TONIGHT at 12:00 AM ET on FOX Sports 1. See below for highlights from last night’s episode.

TODAY’S SCHEDULE
12:00 AM ET – FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TONIGHT, FOX Sports 1

FOX-Record 8.4 Million Watch USA Defeat Germany and Advance to FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2015™ Final: The U.S. Women’s National Team, driven by a tenacious defense that has posted five straight shutouts and not allowed a goal in 513 minutes, out-flanked top-ranked Germany, 2-0, last night in Montreal, Quebec, to return to the final of the FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP™ for what is sure to be a star-spangled showdown against the winner of tonight’s England-Japan semifinal, on Sunday, July 5. The upward audience trend witnessed at each advancing stage throughout the quadrennial tournament continued as FOX set yet another record for soccer on the network, with an average audience of 8.4 million viewers, according to fast nationals issued today by Nielsen. Click HERE for the full release.

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TONIGHT Highlights:

Former England international Kelly Smith reacts to England’s heartbreaking loss:
“My heart is very heavy right now. I know Laura Bassett – I’ve played with her for a number of years. She’s a fantastic player, has fantastic character, and it’s just unfortunate. Football can be so cruel sometimes. It’s devastating for England and for her. It’s going to take her long while to get over this. But she’s got great teammates, and they’re all going to rally around her.”

Leslie Osborne recalls what it feels like to score an own goal in a World Cup:
“I remember going, ‘All I want to do is cry and bend down on my knees and wish I was anywhere in the world but on this field.’ I remember the team coming around me and saying, ‘Hey, we’ve got this. We’ve got 75 minutes left. Get your head right.’ That feeling – I’ll never forget it. It’s your team and your coaches that build around you and dictate what you do after what happens.”

Eric Wynalda says Kelley O’Hara’s insertion into the lineup has been a major turning point for the USWNT:
“I can’t say enough good things about Kelley O’Hara. She handled this perfectly. She was the ultimate teammate. She wasn’t getting any time, she got her opportunity, and she made the most of it. She gets bloodied up in the first game [against China] and then she comes in and scores [against Germany]. That’s the kind of player you want and you need if you’re going to win anything. Her attitude has dictated the entire group.”

Osborne puts into perspective what a USWNT World Cup title would mean for the players and for the sport in the U.S.:
“This is the biggest tournament of their lives. As young girls, we watched that 1999 team – they are the pioneers – they’ve allowed us to be where we’re at. And these players know that. They are former teammates and role models. But they want their own story, they want their own moments and own journey. This country and world is ready to see a new world champion, and they’re ready to embrace this U.S. team.”