Latest news with #Ann-Katrin Berger
The Independent
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Spain illustrate their genius to set up Euro 2025 final showdown with England
If it was anyone else in the world, you might wonder whether she really meant it. If it was anyone else in the world, though, Spain probably wouldn't have even been in that position to score. As it is, the world champions are in their first ever women's European Championship final, thanks to the genius of Aitana Bonmati. It wasn't just about the ingenuity, but the intelligence. Aitaina later said that Spain had been studying Ann-Katrin Berger's movements and how the goalkeeper stepped away from her near post. The playmaker put it exactly where she needed for a 1-0 win over resolute Germany, exactly when it was needed - minutes from the end of extra-time. So, England face up to a repeat of the 2023 final, from a moment that no other player could possibly hope to repeat. Or maybe even imagine. Even before Aitana drilled the ball inside Berger's near post, there was the mercurial quality of the turn. You could actually say Germany had due warning, even if it's almost impossible to predict what a player as good as this will do. Aitana had nevertheless foreshadowed it with the assist for the crucial goal against Switzerland in the quarter-final. She had let the ball roll through her legs to flick it in for Athenea del Castillo. Here, Aitana turned and went on and helped herself. England are going to have to watch for that, except you never know when it's coming. That's the joy of a player like this. Just look at Berger, and the symbolism of beating the best goalkeeper of the tournament so far. The German had stopped everything up to then, a series of shots on target. For this match-winner, she couldn't even see it coming. Berger even pointed to her right, just before Aitana shot to her left. Maybe the biggest giveaway before Aitana's own words was that she never even looked for a runner. She knew what to do. She also did it when it mattered most. How Spain needed it. Berger's commanding performance had played into a growing Spanish frustration, where a visible angst was undercutting their play. They weren't pressing with the same intensity or anywhere near as high up the pitch. They weren't even passing the ball with the same vigour. Fortified by Berger, the Germans looked so assured in defence. All of Carlota Wamser, Janina Minge and Rebecca Knaak stood up so well, among others. It looked and felt like a slow descent to penalties, which might literally have played into Berger's hands. Only deepening the potential psychological angst of that, there was the fact that Spain had never beaten Germany. Ever. You could sense that being a factor as the game wore on, not to mention Spain's comparatively poor knock-out record. It remains a remarkable thing to say about world champions, but this was only their sixth ever victory outside a group stage. They began to make some strange decisions in those stretched final stages of the 90, and then extra-time. That extended to the substitutions, and particularly the removal of Claudia Pina, or the choice of Salma Paralluelo over Vicky Lopez. Except, in some ways, such debatable flaws only further emphasise Spain's strength. Even if they haven't got the right mix, or the formation doesn't quite work, they just have so many different players that can hurt you. And at the centre of it is always Aitana, able to produce something like that. It's going to be an immense challenge for England, but Sarina Wiegman can perhaps point to some elements of encouragement from the game. Germany gave the best blueprint yet (an admittedly common theme) for how to face Spain. They stopped them like no one else. They almost won it at the end of the 90, too, forcing Cata Coll into a double save that was arguably the equal of anything Berger offered. It looked like Klara Buhl's deflected shot was going to drop into the net like a falling leaf, only for the goalkeeper to claw it away before showing incredible reflexes and strength to immediately get up and block Carlotta Wamser's effort. That was a moment every bit as important as Aitana's goal, even if it will naturally be overtaken in the collective memories of this semi-final. There was a lot to take in, which is another element. Spain had to go the distance, and to the very end of extra-time, and that with one day less to prepare than England. Except, in all of that, and a performance that was understandably their least convincing of the tournament so far, they still created a series of chances. They still showed a resolve to match England's. They still showed their genius, as well as the special quality of their star player. No matter anyone's opinion on whether the goal was meant, there's no disputing its meaning. The world champions are in their first ever European Championship final, for a grand showdown with England. A moment like that only makes it even more of a match to savour.
CNN
20-07-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Two-time cancer survivor Ann-Katrin Berger puts in all-time great performance to propel Germany to Euro 2025 semifinals
In terms of challenges that two-time cancer survivor Ann-Katrin Berger has overcome, making a string of saves in Germany's Euro 2025 quarterfinal victory over France on Saturday night is relatively low down on the list. That's not to say it wasn't a huge night for the goalkeeper and her country – she put in one of the tournament's all-time great goalkeeping performances as Germany beat France 6-5 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra time. Berger made nine saves in open play, more than any other player has managed in a knockout stage match at the European Women's Championship since 2013, per the BBC. Her 102nd-minute save to prevent an own goal by teammate Janina Minge was the pick of the bunch, as she acrobatically dived backwards and clawed away the captain's looping header when it looked destined for the back of the net. But the 34-year-old did not stop there. In the penalty shootout, she kept out the very first spot kick from France's Amel Majri, scored her team's fourth penalty, and then dived to her left to keep out Alice Sombath's effort – France's seventh penalty attempt – and win the game for Germany. In apparent disbelief, Berger simply sank to her knees, her arms outstretched and a huge grin on her face, and watched as her jubilant teammates sprinted towards her to celebrate. Progressing to the semifinals of Euro 2025 will have particular meaning to Berger, as it was at this tournament three years ago that she discovered her thyroid cancer had returned after she had previously been diagnosed in 2017. In both instances, the German returned to soccer within months of starting her treatment, citing her need to take her mind off the situation. 'You have to focus on something else, to hold onto something. For me, that was the Euros,' she told Sky Sports in 2022. 'Football saved my brain and saved my mental health because I had something to hold on to.' Having made a full recovery again, the only visible sign of what Berger has been through is on her neck, where a tattoo reading 'All we have is now' covers up scars from her treatment. On the pitch on Saturday, Berger and Germany's hopes of making it past the quarterfinals took a huge dent in the 13th minute when Kathrin Hendrich was sent off for pulling Griedge Mbock by her hair in the penalty area. Grace Geyoro converted the resulting spot kick, and suddenly Germany found itself a goal and a player down. But Die Nationalelf responded quickly when Sjoeke Nüsken headed Klara Bühl's corner in at the near post in the 25th minute. France's Delphine Cascarino and Geyoro each had goals disallowed for offside either side of halftime, before Nüsken passed up a golden opportunity to give Germany an unlikely lead in the 69th minute when her poor penalty was saved by Pauline Peyraud-Magnin after Selma Bacha had fouled Jule Brand. But Berger's heroics were enough to take Germany to the semifinals, where it will face world champion Spain on Wednesday.
CNN
20-07-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Two-time cancer survivor Ann-Katrin Berger puts in all-time great performance to propel Germany to Euro 2025 semifinals
In terms of challenges that two-time cancer survivor Ann-Katrin Berger has overcome, making a string of saves in Germany's Euro 2025 quarterfinal victory over France on Saturday night is relatively low down on the list. That's not to say it wasn't a huge night for the goalkeeper and her country – she put in one of the tournament's all-time great goalkeeping performances as Germany beat France 6-5 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra time. Berger made nine saves in open play, more than any other player has managed in a knockout stage match at the European Women's Championship since 2013, per the BBC. Her 102nd-minute save to prevent an own goal by teammate Janina Minge was the pick of the bunch, as she acrobatically dived backwards and clawed away the captain's looping header when it looked destined for the back of the net. But the 34-year-old did not stop there. In the penalty shootout, she kept out the very first spot kick from France's Amel Majri, scored her team's fourth penalty, and then dived to her left to keep out Alice Sombath's effort – France's seventh penalty attempt – and win the game for Germany. In apparent disbelief, Berger simply sank to her knees, her arms outstretched and a huge grin on her face, and watched as her jubilant teammates sprinted towards her to celebrate. Progressing to the semifinals of Euro 2025 will have particular meaning to Berger, as it was at this tournament three years ago that she discovered her thyroid cancer had returned after she had previously been diagnosed in 2017. In both instances, the German returned to soccer within months of starting her treatment, citing her need to take her mind off the situation. 'You have to focus on something else, to hold onto something. For me, that was the Euros,' she told Sky Sports in 2022. 'Football saved my brain and saved my mental health because I had something to hold on to.' Having made a full recovery again, the only visible sign of what Berger has been through is on her neck, where a tattoo reading 'All we have is now' covers up scars from her treatment. On the pitch on Saturday, Berger and Germany's hopes of making it past the quarterfinals took a huge dent in the 13th minute when Kathrin Hendrich was sent off for pulling Griedge Mbock by her hair in the penalty area. Grace Geyoro converted the resulting spot kick, and suddenly Germany found itself a goal and a player down. But Die Nationalelf responded quickly when Sjoeke Nüsken headed Klara Bühl's corner in at the near post in the 25th minute. France's Delphine Cascarino and Geyoro each had goals disallowed for offside either side of halftime, before Nüsken passed up a golden opportunity to give Germany an unlikely lead in the 69th minute when her poor penalty was saved by Pauline Peyraud-Magnin after Selma Bacha had fouled Jule Brand. But Berger's heroics were enough to take Germany to the semifinals, where it will face world champion Spain on Wednesday.
Reuters
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Germany through to Women's Euro semis after shootout win over France
July 19 (Reuters) - Ann-Katrin Berger pulled off a stunning final save as Germany beat France 6-5 in a penalty shootout to set up a Euro 2025 semi-final showdown with world champions Spain after a bruising encounter that ended 1-1 after extra time on Saturday. The Germans pulled off a stunning comeback from a goal down and a straight red card for defender Kathrin Hendrich after 13 minutes, battling their way back into the game and eventually getting the better of their opponents in a thrilling shootout. Hendrich was sent off after a VAR review established that she had pulled the hair of Griege Mbock Bathy in the box, and Grace Geyoro's subsequent penalty had the power to get over the line despite Berger getting a strong hand to it. On the ropes and struggling, the Germans suddenly levelled, Sjoeke Nuesken catching the defence napping by darting towards Klara Buehl's near-post corner and flashing a header into the net in the 25th minute. With the well-organised Germans defending doggedly, France had two goals ruled out for offside and Nuesken had a second-half penalty saved, and neither side managed to score in extra time. The game went to penalties, and Berger got the shootout off to a great start for the Germans by saving from Amel Majri, but they were brought back to level pegging when Sara Daebrtiz struck her spot kick off the crossbar and over the goal. Berger then fired home from the spot herself before diving to her left to deny Alice Sombath, sending the Germans through to the last four. They will face Spain on Wednesday, a day after England face Italy in the other semi-final.
