Why France will win.

When France took apart South Korea in the opening game of the World Cup, it looked as if no team in the field could match the hosts, with Amandine Henry carving up defenses and centering balls to Eugénie Le Sommer for tap-ins and Wendie Renard towering over defenses to turn headers into pinpoint passes or devastating finishes, then racing back into position to break up even the whiff of an opposing attack.

But in hindsight, that opening night — the fans roaring, the players smiling, everything working to perfection — might have been the high point of France’s World Cup. Ever since, there have been issues: an own goal against Norway, some V.A.R.-assisted luck against Nigeria, an extra-time victory against an aging Brazil that threw every punch it had.

[France Coach Corinne Diacre has dedicated her life to soccer. This is her moment.]

No, getting to the quarterfinals has not been a waltz for Coach Corinne Diacre and her team, and getting past the United States will not be any easier. But there are reasons, beyond a home crowd and a perceived destiny that France has to win a Women’s World Cup sometime, to think the hosts have a real chance on Friday. The center backs Renard and Griedge Mbock Bathy, teammates for club and country, are a formidable barrier to any attack, especially one led by (a possibly injured) Alex Morgan, who was battered by Spain in her last game. Kadidiatou Diani offers a serious threat on the right wing, especially if France counters quickly against a United States team programmed to attack en masse, and Le Sommer, Henry and Valérie Gauvin have shown themselves to be capable finishers.

Sure, there is that gnawing doubt that France has never won anything of note, that it has never found its way past the Americans into women’s soccer’s true elite tier. But this time it will take its shot at home, in front of its fans.