
Germany beats France on penalties to reach Euro 2025 semifinals despite early red card
A drama-filled match finished 1-1 on Saturday, then Germany won the shootout 6-5 thanks to the
heroics of Ann-Katrin Berger
, who saved two shots as well as dispatching her own spot kick.
There were tears of joy from the Germany players after perhaps one of the greatest examples in soccer history of digging deep to defy the odds.
'Everyone was in each other's arms,' Germany coach Christian Wück said. 'Everyone was celebrating; everyone was happy that this hard-fought performance led us to victory.
'I can only say it again and again: I'm so proud of the team for the way they took on this challenge against an opponent who demanded everything from us. That was incredible.'
Germany, which is bidding for a record-extending ninth European Championship title, will face World Cup winner Spain in Zurich on Wednesday.
Early drama over hair-pulling
That seemed improbable after less than 13 minutes when Germany midfielder Kathrin
Hendrich pulled the hair
of France captain Griedge Mbock and issued a straight red card.
Grace Geyoro converted the resulting penalty but Sjoeke Nüsken headed her team level just 10 minutes later.
Despite being at a numerical disadvantage, Germany could have taken the lead with a penalty of its own in the second half but France goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin saved Nüsken's spot kick.
Nüsken scored Germany's last spot kick in the shootout.
Played short again
For the second straight match, Germany was forced to play the majority of the contest with 10 players — Carlotta Wamser was sent off shortly before halftime of the
4-1 thrashing by Sweden
in their final group match.
This time it happened even earlier.
A France free kick was headed wide but the video assistant referee spotted Hendrich yanking Mbock's ponytail.
Geyoro stepped up and, despite the resounding jeers from the wall of Germany fans behind the goal, dispatched the penalty powerfully down the middle.
Germany knew that, with a player down, it had to take full advantage of its set-pieces.
Klara Bühl floated in a corner and Nüsken raced to the near post to meet it with a glancing header that looped into the far corner of the net.
Goals disallowed
Despite the player advantage, France was struggling to impose itself, although it had two goals ruled out for offside either side of the break.
Germany was gifted a chance to take a remarkable lead when France defender Selma Bacha gave away a needless penalty when she tripped Jules Brand near the byline.
But France goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin saved Nüsken's spot kick in yet another failed penalty at Euro 2025.
The best save of the night — and maybe even of the tournament — came from her Germany counterpart in extra time. A backward header from Germany captain Janina Minge had Berger scrambling back to scoop it off the line with an astonishing one-handed stop to spare her teammate's blushes.
Melvine Malard sent a long-range screamer crashing off the crossbar with almost the last touch of the 120 minutes.
More Berger heroics
Berger saved the first penalty she faced from Amel Majri, but Les Bleues were back level when Germany's Sara Däbritz hit the bar with her penalty.
Berger took the next spot kick, Germany's fifth, and left her counterpart with no chance. Shortly afterward the goalie saved again, this time to deny Alice Sombath and spark Germany's celebrations.
The result ended France's 11-match winning streak as the quarterfinals continue to be a stumbling block for Les Bleues, who have now been eliminated in the quarterfinals in seven of the past nine World Cups or Euros.
'I don't think we have a psychological problem. We have opponents of quality, and it gets harder and harder,' said France coach Laurent Bonadei, who took charge in August.
'But I think my players gave us hope; Rome wasn't built in a day.'
___
AP soccer:
https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The lowdown on UEFA Women's EURO 2025: Day 17
The EURO 2025 semi-finals are here and the first finalist will be confirmed on Tuesday evening. Here's what to expect from day 17 of the tournament in Switzerland. Before we get into today's action, what happened last time out? ⏮️ 📸 SEBASTIEN BOZON - AFP or licensors Germany, finalists in 2022, went head to head with France in their quarter-final clash in Basel. France initially took the lead in the first half as Grace Geyoro calmly converted from the penalty spot, after Kathrin Hendrich was shown a straight red card for pulling Griedge Mbock's hair. Sjoeke Nüsken put Germany back on level terms in the first half but neither side was able to find that all important winner in the second half or in extra-time. Ultimately, the game went to penalties and Germany narrowly edged out France 6-5 to progress into the semi-finals. Who is playing today? 👀The first semi-final tie will see current holders England take on Italy in Geneva. The Lionesses booked their place in the last four with a penalty shootout triumph over Sweden, despite finding themselves 2-0 down at half-time. Italy, on the other hand, produced a narrow 2-1 win over Norway in their quarter-final clash to reach the latter stages. Player to watch 🔎 It's fair to say few have been more impactful at this tournament for England than Michelle Agyemang. The teenager only made her senior Lionesses debut back in April, when she scored a stunning volley against Belgium in the Nations League. Here in Switzerland, she has been one of Sarina Wiegman's go-to players off the bench, and she proved exactly why in the quarter-final against Sweden last week. Her perfectly taken goal in the second half put the Lionesses back on level terms in the tie, ensuring they could take things to extra-time, before they eventually triumphed on penalties. Key storyline 🔑 📸 Charlotte Wilson - 2025 Getty Images Italy have, undoubtedly, been one of the feel good stories at this summer's EUROs. Heading into this tournament, the Azzurre hadn't qualified for the semi-finals of the competition since the late 90s, having only made it as far as the quarter-finals in 2009 and 2013. In the last two European championships, Italy failed to even make it out of their group. Which is why you could see exactly what it meant to Cristiana Girelli, when her double against Norway ensured their place in the final four for the first time in over two decades. Overcoming reigning champions England will be a tough ask for Italy but their impressive run thus far speaks for itself. Must-watch video 🎥 It may have little relevance to this evening's game in Geneva but one of the moments of the tournament so far is Ann-Katrin Berger's remarkable stop against France in the quarter-finals. Germany spent the majority of that game up against it, due to being a player down, but the goalkeeper's late save to keep out a misdirected headed clearance, which appeared to be heading into the back of the net, was simply unbelievable. Fun facts 📊 Italy have lost just one of their last seven matches heading into this tie. England have won seven of their last 10 games in all competitions against Italy (D1 L2), that said, they've lost each of the two head-to-heads at the EUROs, in 1987 and 2009 respectively. England are the first reigning champions to reach a EUROs semi-final since Germany back in 2013, and on the last five occasions the reigning champions have featured in the semi-finals, they have gone on to reach the final. Our prediction 🔮 England 2-1 Italy 📸 Eddie Keogh - 2025 Getty Images


Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
⚽ Rhode Island is gearing up for World Cup tourism
We already knew that former Rhode Island Commerce secretary Attorney Thomas Carlotto filed the incorporation paperwork for the nonprofit. While Rhode Island won't host soccer matches as part of the World Cup, the state still believes it will see a flood of tourism because matches will be played at Gillette Stadium. Diossa, who won a state soccer championship at Central Falls High School, has said the tournament could generate more than $50 million in economic activity for the state. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up The team at Ocean State 2026 will be heavily focused on securing sponsorships, but it will also work with state tourism leaders on marketing, offering a top-notch visitor experience, and creating a legacy for soccer in Rhode Island that will carry on long after the World Cup. Advertisement One major unanswered question is how Advertisement Related : This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, . Dan McGowan can be reached at


New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Qatar confirms bid to host 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games
The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has confirmed its bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The QOC is in ongoing discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as part of the election process, per a news release on its website. Qatar hosted the 2019 World Athletics Championships and the 2022 men's World Cup, which attracted widespread controversy due to the nation's anti-homosexuality laws and conditions, which human rights groups routinely condemned, as thousands of migrant workers died building the stadiums in the build-up to the soccer tournament. Seven new stadiums were constructed ahead of the World Cup, which was moved from summer to winter due to concerns over fans and athletes suffering in the extreme heat. 'We currently have 95 per cent of the required sports infrastructure in place to host the Games, and we have a comprehensive national plan to ensure 100 per centreadiness of all facilities,' QOC president Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani said in the release. 'This plan is rooted in a long-term vision aimed at building a socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable legacy. Our objective goes beyond simply organizing a successful event, we aim to deliver a global experience that reinforces the values of inclusivity, sustainability, and international collaboration.' More to follow (Top photo of Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar: Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)