Latest news with #cancer survivor
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.
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Former Crystal Palace and England star Geoff Thomas, 60, conquers Tour de France stage after beating cancer and arthritis - and urges his old club to build new stadium
As a lean-looking Geoff Thomas offers his reflections against the stunning backdrop of the Alps, it's hard to believe he'll celebrate his 61st birthday next month. Thomas, a former FA Cup final captain with Crystal Palace and capped nine times by England, has just cycled past the fashionable ski resort of Courchevel as part a steep climb on the 18th stage of his seventh Tour de France. It is a remarkable feat for anyone let alone a cancer survivor with two arthritic knees, a legacy of his earlier professional career. One of the joys of the Tour is that amateur riders can ride the course a few days before the elite professional riders. Thomas first took part in 2005 – a couple of years after his own diagnosis of myeloid leukemia that required a stem cell transplant – and every ride has raised substantial sums of money for Cure Leukeumia to distribute drugs, run clinical trials and helping to pool information from different health units. At the beginning of this year, Thomas thought competing again on the 20th anniversary of his first tour was a pipedream due to grade four arthritis in both knees, a result of multiple cruciate injuries during his playing days. However, a new injection, Athrosamid, became available and allowed him to train pain-free. The reward will come on Sunday when he crosses the Tour's finish line in Paris having ridden more than two thousand miles. He's approximately the same weight today (76kgs) as during his football career and is understandably proud of what he is about to achieve. 'The Tour is a brutal event, particularly the climbs of 25 or 30 miles in the mountains. I don't think I would like to be a professional cyclist. It is a tough old game,' he acknowledges. 'I initially thought I'd do a week but I've stayed to the end. 'Professor Craddock, my partner in Cure Leukemia, saved my life when I had the illness. It is a great cause which delivers hope to patients. It's what keeps me motivated to do silly things like this!' Thomas played for seven clubs including Nottingham Forest and Wolves but is best-known for his spell as captain at Palace, who took Manchester United to a replay in the 1990 FA Cup final and then finished third in the old First Division. 'A lot of people in the game still call me Skip. The manager Steve Coppell would say I led by example rather than holler, but others might say different! 'When you play alongside people with the quality of Ian Wright, I wasn't scared of speaking my mind when they weren't performing. But he admits the Tour is 'brutal' and says he would not fancy being a professional cyclist 'They might have had so much more ability but you recognise when they aren't pulling their weight. That is what leadership is all about. It is about cajoling and recognising when someone might need a little kick up the backside.' Thomas was at Wembley in May to see the club win the first major trophy in their history, beating Manchester City to win the FA Cup. His own successful Palace team broke up with Wright, Mark Bright and later Nigel Martyn sold for big money. He thinks the long-term answer this time to keeping star assets Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Adam Wharton and Jean-Philippe Mateta is moving out of Selhurst Park to a bigger stadium. 'If Palace go well again and do well in Europe, people are going to come knocking. Realistically, I think Palace could be top eight,' says Thomas. 'In my time, we were promised a new stadium with new facilities, and it's still being talked about. 'It would be nice to see Crystal Palace have the stadium that is fit for this current time. The team is there for it. The fans are there for it. It is a balancing act with the money men, when is the right time. 'It is a difficult choice but I think that is the way you are going to keep these players in the future. Thomas believes Palace can become a top-eight Premier League side if they move to a bigger, more modern stadium 'Everton are leaving Goodison Park. There aren't many old stadiums like Selhurst Park any more. Times move forward, don't they? 'I don't want to put pressure on Steve (Parish) but I think it would be nice for Crystal Palace to play in surroundings fit for these times. They have the players to grace a new stadium. It would be an added bonus.' So far, Parish's summer has been taken up with contesting Uefa's decision to demote the club from the Europa League to the Conference League because of shareholder John Textor's stake in both The Eagles and Lyon. Thomas describes the decision as a 'mess' but though feeling the decision unfair, doesn't think it should define Palace's season. 'I think a bigger club than Palace would have had a better chance of getting past a situation like this,' he says. 'Whatever the outcome, there will be a time to look forward to entertaining football in Europe.'
