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And the U.S. will be in a FIFA Women’s World Cup final for the first time since 1999. What an amazing accomplishment, given how much this team has gone through since 2010.

Again, my thoughts can’t be transcribed into words at this momet, but here are a few points from the match.

- Fitness and willpower win out once more, despite being outplayed for the majority of the match. The U.S. proved they are the fittest team in the tournament with that glorious fightback in the final 20 minutes just as France’s defense was beginning to tire. This with merely two day’s rest after a physically and emotionally draining match that featured 123 minutes plus PK’s, no less! The U.S. looked out of sorts in much of the second half but Abby Wambach’s go-ahead header blew the match wide open. Alex Morgan’s lovely, patient, well-worked goal put the U.S. over the edge.

- Becky Sauerbrunn had a great game. The U.S. defense needed to be intelligent, sharp, and composed against France’s five gifted attackers. All three adjectives perfectly characterize Sauerbrunn’s style of defending. Sauerbrunn found her feet extremely quickly and seemed to have a calming influence on the U.S. back line. She also marked Marie-Laure Delie out of the game. It was the team’s best defensive outing yet, and Sauerbrunn had a lot to do with that — on her World Cup debut, no less!

- Much love for France. Such technical ability and delightful craftiness on the ball. Honestly, some of the football France played in that second half was heavenly. How quickly they broke from center midfield, Necib’s quick passes, the psychic-like awareness of each teammate’s positioning. For France’s goal, Gaetane Thiney’s clever dummie run fooled Hope Solo and she was unable to get a hand on Sonia Bompastor’s cross/shot. France simply couldn’t pierce the U.S.’ back line, though. They were also never going to catch Solo out from distance.

- Credit Pia Sundhage’s substitutions. Much like Lauren Cheney has been a force in midfield, Megan Rapinoe has been a revelation as a super sub. She’s made much more of an impact coming off the bench than she ever has from the start. Rapinoe was at her best today, and it was reflected in the final score line. And then there was Alex Morgan, too, with that very Alex Morgan-like goal to kill the game off. Didn’t fold under the pressure. In Pia we (now) trust.

- Abby Wamabch may end up being the best and most effective target forward of the tournament. Once again, she did exactly what it says on the tin. Yet more heroism from the USA’s predatory striker.

- As was to be expected, the U.S.’ central midfield got worked. Shannon Boxx and Carli Lloyd simply could not cope with France’s 4-2-3-1. Lloyd then really went off the rails in the second half, right as the U.S.’ nerves began to fray. It was okay, though, as Cheney really helped impose some authority in the center of park when she stepped in for Lloyd.

- Hate to be a neg-head at this point, but Amy Rodriguez has simply not performed up to now, and is the only U.S. starter that has made zero impact throughout the tournament. Her first touches have been poor, her runs have been predictable and easily read by smart defenders. She really got lost in the shuffle of this match, regardless of how the U.S. were playing. Fortunately, there have been other players around her that have compensated for her anonymity. A-Rod is a good forward, too, as anyone who followed WPS last season can tell you. It just isn’t coming off for her with the USWNT.

Anyway, one game away from being world champions. How incredible.

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