Drama in the quarter-finals: DFB women defeat France on penalties!

Drama in the quarter-finals: DFB women defeat France on penalties!

A thrilling football game ended on Saturday evening with a storm of celebration: the DFB women have reached the semi-finals of the 2025 European Football Championship! After a dramatic quarter-final duel against France, the German players won 6-5 on penalties. Especially under the eyes of around 10,000 fans from Germany, it was a game full of emotions and brimming with excitement. The hero of the evening was without a doubt goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who was able to fend off two penalty kicks from the French team and thus contributed significantly to the victory, reports Sports show.

The game in Basel was hard fought. After regular time and extra time the score was 1:1. France took the lead through a penalty from Grace Geyoro after German player Kathrin Hendrich was shown a red card in the 15th minute. But Sjoeke Nüsken equalized in the 25th minute. She missed another opportunity in the 69th minute when she missed another penalty. Despite these setbacks, the team remained focused and showed the fighting spirit that is so typical of German football. A goal from Delphine Cascarino was also ruled out for offside, which brought luck for the Germans ZDF today.

A team that sticks together

Not only Berger, but the entire team showed an impressive performance. Despite being outnumbered for more than 100 minutes, the players proved that teamwork is the be-all and end-all. Franziska Kett emphasized that the team has a lot of self-confidence and supports each other. National coach Christian Wück had adjusted his formation compared to the previous game against Sweden and chose a 5-4-1 system in order to remain stable in defense. Giovanna Hoffmann ensured that the offensive wasn't neglected as the central leader. Assistant coach Maren Meinert also announced some changes to the game system in order to react optimally to the circumstances.

The next big goal for the DFB women is the semi-final, which will take place on Wednesday, July 23rd against Spain. The game will be broadcast live on Erste and on sportschau.de at 9 p.m. The players will once again compete in their white anniversary jerseys and the German fan base will actively support them.

Problem child defense and injury-related absences

However, one downside remains: Sjoeke Nüsken is suspended for the semi-finals after her yellow card, and Linder's fitness is questionable. France also has to worry about the use of midfielder Sandie Toletti and goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin. The last game showed the women that they can defy adversity and so hopes of another win against Spain remain high.

With a strong team spirit and the self-confidence they gained in the quarter-finals, the German team is optimistic about the challenges ahead. Football fans can look forward to another exciting duel!