Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger saved two spot-kicks as 10-player Germany defeated favourites France 6-5 on penalties in Basel on Saturday to reach the women's Euro 2025 semi-finals. Germany now face world champions Spain on Wednesday.
Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger saved two spot-kicks as 10-player Germany defeated favourites France 6-5 on penalties in Basel on Saturday to reach the women's Euro 2025 semi-finals.
Germany now face world champions Spain on Wednesday. The other semi-finals is England v Italy on Tuesday.
Berger was also the hero at the Paris Olympics last summer, when she saved Alexia Putellas' last-minute penalty to secure a 1-0 win against Spain and the bronze medal.
Just as in the final group match against Sweden, Germany went down to 10 players in the first half as Kathrin Hendrich was sent off for pulling Griedge Mbock Bathy's hair inside the box in the 13th minute.
France were awarded a penalty, and Berger got a hand to the ball but couldn't stop Grace Geyoro's spot-kick from going into the net.
However, Germany stood strong and stunned the French side as Sjoeke Nüsken headed in the equalizer in the 25th after a corner.
Delphine Cascarino could have given France the lead again, but her effort in the 40th was ruled out for offside.
France had another goal disallowed after the break. Geyoro thought she had her brace after slotting in the rebound from Marie-Antoinette Katoto's header. But Katoto was offside during her goal attempt, which saved by Berger.
Germany had a golden chance to take the lead after Jule Brand was brought down in the penalty area, but Nüsken's spot-kick was saved by Pauline Peyraud-Magnin in the 69th.
Penalties were needed as the score remained 1-1 after extra time and Berger stepped up to save two spot-kicks and secure Germany a place in the semi-finals.
Category: General Sports
