Penalties and Goalkeeper Heroics: What Stood Out And What's Next At Euro 2025
But before we get into that, let's talk about that dramatic quarterfinal round. Reigning champions England won in a wild penalty shootout over Sweden. Germany somehow made it past France (also on PKs) with only 10 players. Spain is marching on after ousting hosts Switzerland, and Italy's renaissance continues after beating Norway for its first semifinal since 1997.
Here's what stood out from those matches and what's ahead for semifinals:
The story of the quarterfinals was the bizarre outcomes from penalty kicks across several matches. For starters, the shootout between England and Sweden was one of the wildest we've ever seen, with 14 spot-kicks taken to decide the winner.
Sweden led the game 2-0 almost from the start, scoring goals in the second and 25th minutes, before the Lionesses scored consecutive goals in the waning moments of regulation to force extra time. With both sides unable to find the back of the net again, the game came down to PKs, which could arguably be described as the most painful/emotional/shocking shootout in history.
Five were scored, six were saved and three were missed. England ultimately advanced with a 3-2 victory, the game-winner coming from Lucy Bronze, which was followed by Smila Homberg's shot sailing over the crossbar. It was also the first time in the history of the Women's Euros that a team came back from a two-goal deficit to win a knockout match.
It wasn't the only game where penalties were a factor. Norway's Ada Hegerberg missed a penalty in the second half that could have shifted momentum before her team was ultimately defeated by Italy. Spain's Mariona Caldentey and Alexia Putellas both missed their respective spot kicks during regulation against the Swiss. Germany's Sjoeke Nusken had her attempt saved in the 68th minute before her team ultimately won in a shootout.
As the tournament marches on, will penalties continue to be kryptonite or will the remaining teams get their acts together? If it's the former, the championship trophy could be anyone's for the taking.
France, which has now been knocked out in the quarterfinals of its last three major tournaments, should have won this game. Les Bleues were up a player most of the game after Germany were issued a red card in the 13th minute when Kathrin Hendrich pulled the hair of France captain Griedge Mbock Bathy. But the French were unable to capitalize, and the Germans took full advantage.
Ann-Katrin Berger's performance was especially heroic, including during extra time when she saved a near own goal that would have been catastrophic. During that period, Berger made a gravity-defying save after a shot bounced backward off Janina Minge's head and nearly went into the goal.
That confidence remained when Berger came up huge during the ensuing penalty shootout. She played mind games with uneasy French shooters, saving three shots and converting one of her own, to propel Germany to the semifinal where they will face Spain's potent offensive attack (Wednesday 3 p.m. on FOX).
There's been concern around England's camp regarding Leah Williamson. The Lionesses captain limped off the pitch with an ankle injury during the win over Sweden.
But manager Sarina Wiegman said that Williamson trained on Monday and will be available for the semifinal showdown vs. Italy on Tuesday (3 p.m. on FOX).
"It says she really wants to play and she did everything to recover as quick as possible, and she has," Wiegman told reporters on Monday.
Williamson has been England's captain for several years now, leading the squad to the Euro 2022 championship before missing the 2023 World Cup with an injury. The 28-year-old defender, who recently helped Arsenal win the Champions League title, has started every match for her national team in this tournament. And as of right now, it appears that trend won't change for Tuesday's game.
Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of "Strong Like a Woman," published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Sky Sports: Aston Villa ‘Finalise Deal' for 25-year-old Midfielder
Aston Villa Tie Down Kamara With Fresh Contract Amid Champions League Miss Aston Villa have secured the long-term future of Boubacar Kamara, finalising a new deal with the 25-year-old midfielder despite their narrow miss in the race for Champions League qualification. As first reported by Sky Sports, the French international has committed to Villa Park following weeks of internal optimism that a deal would be struck. Kamara, who joined the club on a free transfer from Marseille in 2022, has become a vital part of Unai Emery's midfield, drawing praise for his composure on the ball and tactical intelligence in front of the back four. With two years remaining on his previous deal, there were growing concerns about whether he would stay if European ambitions were not met. However, those fears have now been put to rest. Kamara's Importance To Emery's System Since arriving in the Premier League, Kamara has quickly established himself as a consistent performer under Emery. His ability to dictate tempo and read the game has made him a mainstay in the starting XI when fit. Emery views him as a pillar around which the team can build towards consistent top-six finishes. 'He's one of the smartest players we have when it comes to controlling space,' a club source said. 'We've built a lot of our transitions around his positioning.' Photo: IMAGO Contract Extension Despite European Disappointment According to Sky Sports, Kamara had initially wanted to see whether Villa would reach the Champions League before deciding on a contract extension. That did not materialise, yet the player has opted to stay, signalling belief in the club's project. 'The report suggests the 25-year-old had been waiting to see whether Villa would qualify for the Champions League, but he has now extended his stay despite the club missing out on the final qualifying spot.' Villa's ownership and management will see this as a statement of intent. Retaining a player of Kamara's calibre while fending off speculative interest from other top clubs sends a message that Villa are serious about sustained progress. Building Stability Ahead Of Next Season This decision also offers a degree of stability heading into the 2025 season. Villa are likely to be active again in the transfer window, but keeping core players like Kamara gives them a base from which to build. With European football still secured via the Europa League, the club can offer Kamara meaningful continental experience, which may have helped tip the scales in their favour during negotiations. What This Means For Villa's Midfield Kamara's renewal allows Villa to plan the midfield future with greater clarity. Douglas Luiz has attracted interest, and while nothing is guaranteed in the market, locking down Kamara gives Villa a crucial safety net. It also sends a strong message to potential new signings that top players believe in Emery's long-term vision. Our View – EPL Index Analysis As an Aston Villa supporter, this is the sort of news that fills you with pride and quiet confidence. Boubacar Kamara committing to the club, despite Champions League qualification slipping through our fingers, tells you everything about how far Villa have come in the last two years. Kamara is not just a top talent, he's the type of player who glues a system together. You don't always see it in the highlights, but his positional discipline, ball retention and calmness under pressure are invaluable. To have him in claret and blue for the foreseeable future is a massive win. From the moment he arrived, you could tell Kamara had the mentality and maturity to thrive in the Premier League. It's even more reassuring to know that, according to Sky Sports, he waited to assess the club's European trajectory before making his decision. That he signed anyway shows how much faith he has in Unai Emery and the club's ambition. This is not just a contract extension, it's a statement. Villa are no longer a stepping stone. We are building something sustainable, and players like Kamara want to be part of it. That's a shift we've waited years to see.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool have golden chance to sign ANOTHER French star
Liverpool have a golden chance to sign another French star this summer. Hugo Ekitike has already arrived through the doors at the club. He touched down in Hong Kong to link-up with the rest of the team on Thursday and it remains to be seen just when he's going to be making his debut. LFC Kits Shop Now LFC x New Era Shop Now LFC Signed Merch Shop Now LFC x Titleist Shop Now He becomes the second Frenchman in Arne Slot's squad, with Ibrahima Konate being the other. Konate's fate is of course up in the air, having entered the final 12 months of his current deal. There remains optimism he could extend, and Liverpool could have a way of enticing him by bringing in a strong French core. In Ekitike, Konate will already have an ally, but what's better than one ally? The answer is two allies. And the perfect player is now seemingly availabe on the market. Someone Liverpool should be fighting to sign. According to TBR Randal Kolo Muani's move to Juventus is at the risk of collapsing and he's now made himself available to other teams on the market. The Paris Saint Germain forward is up for sale this summer and it's almost certain he will be on the move. There are a number of Premier League clubs interested in his services and Liverpool should be one of them. This is a player who would really fit in nicely with the way Arne Slot is trying to get the Reds to play football. Kolo Muani is a rapid striker who can create chances and can be very reliable inside the penalty area. His pace and ability to run in the channels and on the wings, makes him a versatile option and he's got a very good goal-scoring record even though things haven't quite worked out for him at PSG. Only 26-years-old, he's in the prime of his career. Liverpool's dream might be Alexander Isak, and that's a deal that could get done. However, if for some reason a move for the Swede falls through, which is possible given Newcastle's strong stance in not wanting to sell him, Kolo Muani becomes an ideal alternative. At the end of the day, Liverpool will need more reinforcements. Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa are all expected to depart. If all three leave, it cannot just be Isak or nothing. The Reds will not be able to rely on Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah alone as their three senior options in attack. Bringing in Kolo Muani could be a really smart move. He's likely available for a cut price, given PSG are looking to sell him and that makes him a market opportunity. In turn, Liverpool could add another Frenchman to the squad, to add to Ekitike and Konate.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Official – Aleksandar Stankovic Joins Club Brugge From Inter Milan
Young Serbian midfielder Aleksandar Stankovic has joined Club Brugge from Inter Milan. The Belgian club confirm the teenage midfielder's arrival on their homepage. He has arrived on a permanent deal, although Inter reportedly have a buyback option as part of the terms of the sale. Aleksandar Stankovic came through Inter Milan's youth academy. The Serb is the son of legnedary former Nerazzurri and Lazio midfielder Dejan Stankovic. In recent years, the young midfielder has emerged as one of the outstanding talents in Inter's youth teams. Therefore, last season the Serb joined Luzern on loan. This was his first opportunity in the senior game. And it proved to be a successful loan spell. Stankovic was even named as Luzern's player of the season for last campaign. Aleksandar Stankovic Joins Club Brugge From Inter Milan L'AQUILA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 21: Aleksandar Stankovic of Serbia U18 and Enoch Owusu of Italy U18 (They both play in FC Internazionale) looks on after the International Friendly Match between Italy U18 and Serbia U18 at Stadio Gran Sasso d'Italia on September 21, 2022 in L'Aquila, Italy. (Photo by) Luzern had a purchase option as part of the loan deal for Stankovic. Therefore, it was little surprise that the Swiss club took advantage. However, Inter also had a buyback option. Therefore, they signed the 19-year-old right back. There were a few clubs to have shown an interest in Stankovic this summer. Among these were Stuttgart and Wolfsburg from the Bundesliga. However, it was Club Brugge who jumped to the head of the queue. And now, they have successfully agreed a deal with Inter for Stankovic. Brugge do not officially announce the transfer fee. However, reports widely indicate that it is in the region of €10 million. Meanwhile, it is also widely reported that Inter have insisted on a buyback option in the deal. This would be for in the region of €25 million, and is active for the next two summers.
