Top-ranked Germany won a dramatic penalty shoot-out 5-4 as the former two-time winners beat France to advance to the semi-finals at the Women's World Cup on Friday.

The thrilling game at Montreal's Olympic Stadium went to a heart-breaking penalty shoot-out after the two teams were locked 1-1 after 30 minutes of extra time.

Louisa Necib had opened the scoring for third-ranked France after 64 minutes but Celia Sasic levelled with a penalty six minutes from time.

Claire Lavogez missed France's final penalty sending her team out of the tournament.

Germany, winners in 2003 and 2007, will play either the United States or China in the semi-finals next Tuesday.

France had dominated play in front of just under 25,000 spectators at the stadium in the largely French-speaking city of Montreal.

Necib, dubbed the "Female Zidane" of the French women's team, had missed an early golden chance when just 49 seconds into the game when she fired left of goal.

The breakthrough finally came after 63 minutes when Necib picked up the ball from the edge of the box firing into the net through a deflection off Germany defender Annike Krahn.

But Sasic equalised when she converted a harsh penalty awarded on 84 minutes after the ball was handled inside the area by France's Amel Majri, slotting in her sixth goal of the tournament.