Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger saved two spot-kicks as 10-player Germany defeated favourites France 6-5 on penalties to reach the women’s Euro 2025 semi-finals.
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 world champions Spain and the bronze medal.
At Euro 2025, Berger once again stepped up to save France’s first and last spot-kick.
The Germans have booked another clash with Spain in their semi-final match on Wednesday. The other semi-final is England v Italy on Tuesday.
“Insane, really. We believed in ourselves,” captain Janina Minge told broadcasters ZDF, while coach Christian Wück celebrated an “unbelievable performance.”
Worst start possible for Germany
Just as in the final group match against Sweden, Germany went down to 10 players in the first half when Kathrin Hendrich was sent off for pulling Griedge Mbock Bathy’s hair inside the box in the 13th minute.
Hendrich was replacing Carlotta Wamser, who was sent off against Sweden. Wamser, meanwhile, had earned a spot in the starting line-up after captain Giulia Gwinn suffered an injury in the opening game against Poland.
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 in the 15th.
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 have another goal ruled out, Germany miss penalty
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 in the 57th. But Katoto was offside during her goal attempt, which was saved by Berger.
Germany, meanwhile, 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.
The Germans held off intense French pressure to take the game to extra time, and Berger made an amazing one-handed stop to avoid what would have been an own goal from Minge in the 103rd minute.
Special tournament for cancer survivor Berger
The Euro 2025 tournament has been a special achievement for Berger after surviving thyroid cancer.
She was first diagnosed in 2017 and underwent surgery. During Euro 2022, when she was a back-up keeper, Berger learned that the cancer was back, but kept it to herself at that time.
Berger, 34, became first-choice in the national team last year for the Paris Olympics and retained her number one status for the Euros in Switzerland.