France were beaten 2-0 by Japan in the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa. The 2014 U-17 World Cup winners Japan finished first in Group D, winning all of their games. Momoko Tanikawa scored the early goal, and Sayami Kusunoki netted an injury-time header to give Japan an easy victory over the skilled French team.

Both sides were on one other's tails from the start, but Japan were far more disciplined throughout the game. They were well-organized in their defence and midfield, giving them an advantage in terms of ball control. Japan's attacking trio applied relentless pressure against France, resulting in them losing possession on multiple occasions.

Japan were patient during the buildup to the attack and did not attempt any sloppy passes. They maintained good control of the game and made sure that the forward players didn't have to go too deep to aid with ball progression. This meant that the strikers kept their shape, which was a big reason why Japan kept pushing the French backline, attempted 17 shots in all.

When it came to aerial defence, Japan players put their bodies on the line (or rather, in the air) to ensure they won all of the duels. Japan is the only side to not concede a goal in this World Cup. Uruha Iwasaki, their keeper, performed admirably today, making many vital stops. On the pitch, Iwasaki was also fairly loud, advising her teammates during set pieces.

Japan, as a cohesive unit, outperformed France in practically every department on the pitch today. The Asian team had clearly premeditated their next two-three plays before even passing the ball. Whenever one of the players found themselves in an awkward position, her teammates swiftly covered it up with their great positioning.

It would be unfair to single out Japan's best player today because the entire team played well. Throughout the competition, this has been the case. Japan's ten goals in the group stages have been scored by seven different players which indicates that they aren't dependent on one or two players only.

This performance is readily comparable to an orchestra concert in which all of the musicians are in sync.