Cascarino exchanged passes with from a short corner with Louise Fleury before she skipped past her marker and bent a curling effort into the net from a difficult angle after 16 minutes at the Sir John Guise Stadium.

In the other quarter-final to take place today, substitute Kelcie Hedge came off the bench and fired the United States into the last four as her goal in added time at the end of the second half gave her side a dramatic 2-1 victory over Mexico at the same venue.

France began their clash with Germany brightly but were forced to rely on a string of impressive saves from goalkeeper Mylene Chavas after Cascarino had given them the lead.

Germany, bidding for a second consecutive FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup title, were twice denied by the heroics of Chavas before half-time.

Chavas tipped Anna Gerhardt’s shot from distance onto the crossbar and she then prevented Saskia Matheis from drawing Germany level.

France began to look the more likely of finding a second goal after the break but Clara Mateo spurned a glorious opportunity, missing the target with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Chavas came to the fore again shortly after, tipping a swerving Dina Orschmann shot around the post, while at the other end, Marie-Charlotte Leger’s chip clipped the crossbar.

With time fast running out, Germany pressed forward, desperate to find an equaliser, but the French defence held firm to ensure they would go on to face Japan in the semi-finals.

Three-times winners the US knew it would be a tricky affair against a resilient Mexican side and they fell behind midway through the second half when Maria Sanchez’s free-kick somehow went through the grasp of American goalkeeper Casey Murphy.

Just as Mexico looked to have done enough for a place in the last four, substitute Ally Watt latched on to a Maria Sanchez pass before slipping the ball underneath the onrushing Esthefanny Barreras nine minutes from time.

Clearly buoyed by the late leveller, the US went in search of a winner and it came in the dying stages as Hedge swept home from close range to break Mexican hearts.

The US will go up against North Korea in the other semi-final.

Both last four encounters are due to be held at the Sir John Guise Stadium on Tuesday (November 29).