Germany exits Euro 2025 after sheer doggedness nearly gets team to the final
'If it goes well we'll see each other Sunday evening in Basel for the final,' Merz posted on social media before the German team faced World Cup champion Spain in the semifinal match on Wednesday.
It didn't go quite that well. Aitana Bonmatí scored late in extra time for Spain to win 1-0 and avoid a penalty shootout that the Germany team had been holding out for.
Germany's Euro 2025 campaign had been full of promise, but not matched in substance.
Merz was filmed watching Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger's amazing save in the quarterfinal win over France as if he'd never seen it before. He he was never so excited during a soccer game than he'd been watching Germany win on penalties the previous weekend.
A commitment to meet France's president, Emmanuel Macron, meant Merz couldn't attend the semifinals in Zurich.
Anyone watching Germany during the tournament was left wondering what the team is really capable of.
A highlight reel would feature a string of fine saves from Berger, committed defending from Franziska Kett, Giovanna Hoffmann and Jule Brand – who are all forwards – and only occasional flashes of brilliance in attack, such as Brand's opening strike in the team's first game against Poland .
Germany, the eight-time European champion, only nearly reached the final through sheer dogged determination.
Captain Giulia Gwinn was injured against Poland and ruled out for the remainder of the tournament . A 2-1 come-from-behind win over Denmark ensured early progress from the group, before a chastening 4-1 loss to Sweden in the last group game.
Germany had defender Gwinn's replacement, Carlotta Wamser, sent off early against Sweden for swatting the ball away from goal with her hand, then Kathrin Hendrich sent off early in the quarterfinal match against France for pulling French captain Griedge Mbock back by her hair .
It meant Germany reverted to defensive tactics in both games, protecting Berger's goal while hoping the likes of Brand and star forward Klara Bühl might score on counterattacks.
Bühl's corner allowed Sjoeke Nüsken to score the equalizer against France and the team held on despite French dominance to win 6-5 on penalties after Berger's heroics.
The Germany goalkeeper was feted afterward for her amazing save to stop stand-in captain Janina Minge's backward header from going into her own net when she leaped backwards and somehow clawed the ball away from the line. Berger also saved two penalties and scored her own spot kick in the shootout.
The win filled the German players and supporters with confidence ahead of the game against Spain, despite the overall performance against France.
'We dominated them from start to finish. Now they're through. I'm sorry, but they don't deserve it,' France winger Selma Bacha said.
Germany was short on defenders against Spain with Sarai Linder joining Gwinn on the injury list and Hendrichs and Nüsken both suspended. But it didn't stop the team defending, with forwards helping out at the back, producing timely blocks and committed challenges to frustrate Spain's star forwards. Berger again made a host of saves until she left space at her near post and Bonmatí squeezed the ball through.
It ended Germany's hopes of a rematch with defending champion England in the final, and left Merz with an opening in his schedule.
___
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
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Plymouth handed striker injury boost ahead of Bolton clash
Plymouth Argyle are expected to have striker Bim Pepple back available for their trip to Wanderers Pepple, who joined the Pilgrims over the summer, missed the opening day defeat against Barnsley due to injury. In his absence, midfielder Caleb Watts played up front and managed to get on the scoresheet. Watts also had a goal disallowed, although his efforts proved in vain as Tom Cleverley's tenure began with defeat at Home Park. "We will have Bim available for next weekend, we have missed him," Cleverley told Plymouth Live after the opener. Watts is another player who joined Plymouth this summer following their relegation from the Championship. When asked why he selected the former Exeter man to lead the attack, Cleverley replied: "The game is always about in possession and out of possession. When we think of our number nine, in possession can he score goals is always the first thing. READ MORE: Why Wanderers Women must be ready for 'fresh slate' this season "Out of possession you won't find a better centre-forward. The way he presses, he gives us control that way. 'We went back over his old footage, can he makes those channel runs, can he play on the shoulder, does he know where to be inside the box and he ticked all those boxes. "Malachi [Boateng] has had a great pre-season and freeing Caleb high up the pitch meant I could get Malachi in the team as well, that was important to me.' Owen Oseni is another attacking option in the Plymouth squad but Cleverley opted to introduce the 22-year-old from the bench following his switch from St Mirren. "We are certainly not disregarding Owen,' the former Watford boss insisted. 'He's a natural centre-forward but we are asking a lot of him this early in his Argyle career to be our number nine and take that responsibility. 'There is a lot of development left in him that one day we hope he can be. It has just come a little bit too soon for him."
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Kaine Kesler-Hayden interview: ‘Frank Lampard was a massive reason why I joined Coventry'
Kaine Kesler-Hayden possesses many admirable and versatile traits, but carrying a tune is apparently not one of them. Initiations are a common part of any new player's integration process at a club. Often, that means standing on a chair in front of their team-mates and belting out a song. 'They wouldn't want to hear me sing,' Kesler-Hayden says, laughing. 'I just decided to accept the fine (for not singing) and put it in the kitty.' Advertisement Fortunately for Coventry City, Kesler-Hayden's start to life under head coach Frank Lampard has set the right tone on the pitch. A pre-season camp in Portugal was physically tough — 'one of the hardest I've had' — but enabled Kesler-Hayden to gel with his colleague as, for the first time, he finds permanent residency away from Aston Villa. Following five loans and interest from several clubs in the second-tier Championship, including Coventry, enamoured by his successful spell in that division with Preston North End last season, the 22-year-old decided to make the short move to Villa's Midlands neighbours. 'It's been perfect,' he says. 'The deal happened quickly, but I did come in for analysis meetings about where I'd fit tactically. The manager (Chelsea great and England caps centurion Lampard) showed clips of me and his team. He said my style would fit perfectly with how he wanted to play. I love playing in a possession-based team, so that was a big draw. I knew from the first time I spoke to the gaffer that it was the club I wanted to join.' Kesler-Hayden joined Coventry at the end of June for a fee of £5million ($6.7m). The former England Under-20 international wanted his future resolved early this summer. Loans to opposite ends of the country — from Plymouth Argyle in the far southwest to Preston in the northwest, with spells at Milton Keynes Dons, Swindon Town and Huddersfield Town in between — while at Villa meant Kesler-Hayden was ready for a less nomadic existence. His next move had to feel more long-lasting. He was living in Salford, just outside Manchester, while on loan at nearby Preston but bought a house last year close to where he grew up in the Birmingham district of Solihull. He is a Midlands boy with a gentle Brummie accent and is a product of Villa's academy, captaining their under-18s to FA Youth Cup final victory in 2021. 'Going to Coventry and living nearby was a massive bonus,' he says. 'But there are also differences between a manager who has experienced the game and one who hasn't. When I walked back to the car after meeting Frank, I said to my agent, 'I really like him'. 'How he was as a person and how he spoke to me — he was a massive reason I came.' As a boyhood Villa supporter and a player at the club since he was eight years old, a Premier League debut seemed aspirational, though not outlandish, for Kesler-Hayden. It seemed within touching distance when he made his senior debut in the Covid-19-affected FA Cup fixture against Liverpool in January 2021. Advertisement Over the next three years, Kesler-Hayden would remain in a cycle of returning to Villa from one of his many loans for pre-season before being sent back out on loan or lingering around the first-team squad, without ever playing in the Premier League. So when the moment finally arrived, in March last year, as a late substitute in the 2-0 home victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers, it would not be overly cliched to describe it as Kesler-Hayden realising a dream. The moments of pride did not detract from his acceptance that he was unlikely to ever establish himself at Villa. He signed a contract extension after that 2023-24 season, but only to protect his market value, ensuring he did not enter the final 12 months of his prior deal. 'Leaving was difficult, because I'd been there for 14 years,' he admits. 'I had a chat about this summer with (sporting director) Monchi and (director of football operations) Damian Vidagany when I signed my new deal and then midway through last season. They were really nice about me leaving and were happy for me to speak to other teams. 'They (Villa) are on an upward trajectory and it's tough competition. I would have wanted the opportunity, but my pathway wasn't clear there.' Kesler-Hayden spent six intense months working under manager Unai Emery after returning to Villa in January 2024 from his loan to Plymouth, then in the Championship. The academy graduate had opted to stay with his parent club until the end of that season, rejecting offers from top-end League One sides, and was justified with that Premier League debut two months later. 'Emery is one of the best managers I've ever seen,' he says. 'There were massive amounts of detail, and analysis meetings that lasted two hours-plus. The first one, I struggled with… there were a few coffees! But going into games, there were no questions to ask — you knew everything about the opposition.' Looking back, half a year with Emery laid the foundations for a coming-of-age period at Preston when he was sent there on loan last August. 'Those six months were good for my development,' Kesler-Hayden says. 'Leon Bailey and Morgan Rogers — you are training with top players. I improved, it filled me with confidence that I could be an established Championship player on my next loan.' Advertisement The year at Preston hardened Kesler-Hayden's mentality and inspired a new level of performance, as he started all of their Championship fixtures from October until the end of the season. He became more tactically erudite and consistent displays followed, leading to Kesler-Hayden sweeping up the individual prizes at Preston's annual awards. 🏆 Sir Tom Finney Player of the Year🏆 Players' Player of the Year🏆 Young Player of the Year Fully deserved, @KaineKeslerHayd. 👏#pnefc — Preston North End FC (@pnefc) April 29, 2025 'We would love to keep him, but maybe we have done too good a job with him,' Preston's manager, Paul Heckingbottom, told The Athletic in March. 'At previous loans, I had not completed the season,' says Kesler-Hayden. 'I was always coming back in January, either staying at Villa or going on another loan, which didn't allow me to settle. 'Positionally, I became much better at Preston. I was playing centre-half, both sides of full-back and wing-back, even winger — I was all over the place, and that allowed me to see the game from different places. Now, when I play right-back or centre-back, I understand what my player in front or the player in the opposite position needs from me.' Even at 22, Kesler-Hayden is aware of the considerable bank of experience he has amassed. He knows exactly how many senior games he has played (136) and is striving to reach more landmarks. This chimes with his personality off the field: he is viewed as a conscientious, serious worker who enjoys scrutinising his own game. Match footage has played a crucial role in his development, with Kesler-Hayden scouring clips for specific details, such as how he reacts to turnovers in possession or when he does not move into a covering position quickly enough. While at Preston, he regularly discussed his performances with Villa's loan manager, Tony Carss. Advertisement 'We spoke every week regarding how I played,' Kesler-Hayden says. 'I respect him for that — he gave me honest opinions on my matches. Honesty is the best policy: you don't want someone to tell you you're doing well when you're not. He came to a lot of the games, which was massive. It showed he cared. 'We would use (analysis website) Wyscout, and Tony would make clips, annotating them with comments where I could see what I did right or wrong in an exact moment. The comments would be mostly questions to ask myself, not necessarily answers.' Carss offered a point of connection to Villa, but Kesler-Hayden considered himself a Preston player. This crystallised when the teams were drawn to face each other in the FA Cup quarter-finals, with Kesler-Hayden ineligible to play against his parent club. 'I was gutted,' he says. 'I was sitting in front of the TV, watching the draw. I messaged someone at Preston and said, 'I can definitely play, can't I?'. They said no. I couldn't believe it. 'It was weird. I wanted Preston to win, so I could play at Wembley (in the semi-finals) but my friends from Villa were playing and I was chatting to them before the game, so it was bittersweet.' Kesler-Hayden will always feel affection for Villa — he's spent more than half his life with them, after all — yet he knew he needed stability, and Coventry are providing that. After making the play-offs last season and losing to eventually-promoted Sunderland in a semi-final that went to extra time, Lampard's side are considered among the contenders to win a Premier League place in the campaign that kicks off at home against Hull City on Saturday. So, for Kesler-Hayden, this move marks the next step up the ladder. Like his singing, a polite reluctance appears when asked about personal goals for the campaign ahead. Nonetheless, Kesler-Hayden is confident the time will come when he is back in the top flight. 'I can do a lot at Coventry and get where we want to get to, which is the Premier League,' he says. 'It's just about getting over that edge.' Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Business Upturn
an hour ago
- Business Upturn
Lucas Digne puts a full-stop to rumours; Agrees to sign a new deal with Villa
Lucas Digne has decided to sign a new deal at Aston Villa this summer. By Ravi Kumar Jha Published on August 7, 2025, 08:41 IST Lucas Digne has decided to sign a new deal at Aston Villa this summer. The player wants to stay at the club and fight for the top titles. The deal has been agreed between the parties until June 2028. This means the extension is of 3 years and Digne is ready to commit his future to the club. There were several clubs who were approaching Villa for the left-back, but Digne puts a full-stop to all the rumours. Aston Villa left-back Lucas Digne has officially agreed to sign a new contract with the club, extending his stay until June 2028. The French international, who joined Villa in January 2022, has put an end to recent transfer speculation by pledging his long-term future to Unai Emery's side. Despite interest from several clubs across Europe, Digne has made it clear that he wants to remain at Villa Park and help the club compete for top honours. The new deal adds three more years to his existing contract, reflecting his desire to stay and fight for silverware. Digne has been a key figure in Villa's recent success under Emery, bringing experience, consistency, and quality down the left flank. His decision to extend his contract is a major boost for the team as they prepare for a busy campaign in the Premier League and European competitions. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Ravi kumar jha is an undergraduate student in Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia and Mass Communication. A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication and he also has a genuine interest in sports. Ravi is currently working as a journalist at
