Germany fights its way into the European Championship semi-finals: Berger shines in the penalty shootout!

Germany fights its way into the European Championship semi-finals: Berger shines in the penalty shootout!

What an emotional football game! Late in the evening of July 20, 2025, the DFB women met France in the European Championship quarter-finals and made history. Despite the fact that Germany played outnumbered for over 100 minutes, the team managed to escape to penalties and ultimately win 6-5 against the French.

The game started turbulently: After Kathrin Hendrich received a red card in the 13th minute, Germany came under early pressure. France took the lead in the 15th minute through a penalty from Grace Geyoro. Nevertheless, the German team was not discouraged. Sjoeke Nüsken equalized in the 25th minute and kept the DFB Women's hopes alive, even if they missed a penalty in the second half.

A thrill of a game

The first half ended 1-1, and the second half also produced no goals, although Nüsken missed the opportunity to take the lead in the 69th minute. Because the German team fought with strong will when they were outnumbered and largely kept the French offensive in check. Two of France's offside goals were canceled by a VAR review, which further increased the pressure on Germany.

Germany were lucky in extra time when Melvine Malard's shot hit the crossbar. The spectators were excited to see how the penalty shootout would turn out. Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who played a crucial role for the DFB team, became the star of the evening. She saved two of France's penalties and converted them herself, which catapulted the team into the semi-finals.

A hero in Dortmund

Berger, who not only thrilled her teammates but also the fans with her performance, was overjoyed after the game. In an emotional moment, she threw her gloves into the crowd, which heated up the atmosphere even more. Coach Christian Wück praised his team's fighting performance and emphasized how the players shone through cohesion and determination despite the adversity.

Germany will now face Spain in the semi-finals next Wednesday at 9 p.m. The DFB women have prepared themselves well for this duel and the fans in Germany can look forward to an exciting game. As the Sports show reports, the evening at the Dortmund Football Museum was a very special night for the DFB women's team and their supporters.

Likewise describes the South German newspaper, how the players showed their emotions after the game and how the mood among the fans literally boiled over. It remains to be seen whether the team can implement this performance in the next game.