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Screengrab via Fox Sports/YouTube

England loses Women’s World Cup semifinal in the worst way imaginable

It's tough to look at this.

 

Josh Katzowitz

Internet Culture

Posted on Jul 2, 2015   Updated on May 28, 2021, 10:53 am CDT

A day after the U.S. Women’s National Team put together its best game of the Women’s World Cup to dispatch Germany 2-0, we know now who the Americans will play in the final. That would be Japan, which beat England 2-1 in the 93rd minute on Wednesday.

But the way the Japanese won left much of the world heartbroken for the English team, particularly Laura Bassett—who, while trying to clear the ball away from a dangerous area of the field with only seconds left in regulation, accidentally scored an own goal to provide the winning margin for Japan and knock her own team out of the tournament.

It’s the first time in Women’s World Cup history that an own-goal had been scored in stoppage time, and it’s as brutal as you might imagine.

https://vine.co/v/e1bZwvhivqz

And here’s the excruciating walk back to the sideline post game for Bassett and a supportive teammate.

https://vine.co/v/e1MbDhmLTvi

Here was what English coach Mark Sampson had to say after the game.

But Bassett found something amazing after the game: plenty of Twitter support.

https://twitter.com/Bonnie_D_Ford/status/616410776472014849

Screengrab via Fox Sports/YouTube

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*First Published: Jul 2, 2015, 11:43 am CDT