logo
France's European run ended by familiar foe Germany

France's European run ended by familiar foe Germany

The Sun20-07-2025
HEARTBROKEN France were left lamenting another European exit at the hands of Germany on Saturday in a stunning 6-5 penalty shootout loss in the Euro 2025 quarter-finals, leaving Les Bleues still searching for their first major tournament title.
The loss came despite having a player advantage for most of the game, after Germany's Kathrin Hendrich was sent off for a tug on the hair of Griege Mbock Bathy in the box in the 13th minute.
Grace Geyoro's ensuing penalty kick in the 13th minute was France's only goal in a bruising match that was tied 1-1 at the end of extra time.
'It's very cruel, it's very difficult,' Geyoro said. 'We don't realize it yet, and there's a lot of disappointment and frustration at going out like that tonight. We're wondering when it's going to be smiling for us at last. It's difficult, frankly it's hard, that's football. I'm disappointed.'
The loss conjured memories of Euro 2022 when Germany dispatched France 2-1 in the semifinals before losing to England for the title.
Despite the man advantage, France seemed to wither as the minutes wore on against the eight-times European champions.
'We're sorry because when you're eleven against ten, you know that your set-pieces, numerical superiority do not exist anymore, so we had to avoid giving them those situations,' coach Laurent Bonadei said.
'We didn't manage to find the back of the net except for two goals that were flagged offside. It's a shame, we didn't need much. Especially after what we'd done in the group phase, I thought we were getting stronger.'
France indeed had their chances, with goals by Delphine Cascarino and Geyoro chalked off for offside in each half. Melvine Malard clanged a rocket off the crossbar in the dying seconds of extra time.
'I'm obviously disappointed,' France goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin said. 'They were down to ten against 11, so even more disappointed. Finishing on penalties and going out like that is always the worst way to go.
'It was a complicated game, they were behind for almost 90 minutes and they were sending warheads up front.
'We're a bit down, we've just taken a blow to the back of the head.'
France's Amel Majri and Alice Sombath had their penalties saved in the shootout, with Sombath's spelling the end of France's tournament, as the heartbroken players collapsed on the pitch.
'There's obviously a lot of disappointment,' Geyoro said. 'We really wanted to go all the way, but unfortunately we stop at the quarter-finals. Leaving the tournament just before the semi-finals is a real blow.'- REUTERS
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Cycling-Tour de France final stage neutralised after slippery road conditions
Cycling-Tour de France final stage neutralised after slippery road conditions

The Star

time2 hours ago

  • The Star

Cycling-Tour de France final stage neutralised after slippery road conditions

Cycling - Tour de France - Stage 20 - Nantua to Pontarlier - Nantua, France - July 26, 2025 Riders in action in the peloton during stage 20 REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier PARIS (Reuters) -The final stage of the Tour de France saw its competitive element largely neutralised on Sunday after organisers decided to freeze the times with about 50 kilometres left due to hazardous road conditions. Following a pre-stage check, officials identified several sections of the course as dangerously slippery. The stage goes up the cobbled roads of the Butte Montmartre three times. "After a reconnaissance carried out before the stage, and after noting that certain sections had slippery road conditions, it was decided, in agreement with the president of the commissaires' panel, that the times would be frozen at kilometre 82, that is, on the 4th crossing of the finish line," organisers said in a statement. "A stage classification will be established, but it will not affect the general classification." The overall standings will therefore remain unchanged, preserving the yellow jersey leader's position. Slovenian Tadej Pogacar will, however, still need to cross the finish line to be declared winner of the race. (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne;)

Motor racing-Piastri beats Norris in rain-hit Belgian Grand Prix
Motor racing-Piastri beats Norris in rain-hit Belgian Grand Prix

The Star

time2 hours ago

  • The Star

Motor racing-Piastri beats Norris in rain-hit Belgian Grand Prix

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (Reuters) -McLaren's Oscar Piastri beat teammate and title rival Lando Norris in a rain-delayed Belgian Grand Prix to stretch his Formula One lead to 16 points on Sunday. Charles Leclerc was a distant third for Ferrari as dominant champions McLaren celebrated their sixth one-two finish in 13 races and the third in a row. The race at Spa-Francorchamps was red-flagged after an initial formation lap and delayed by an hour and 20 minutes due to the weather, with standing water and heavy spray affecting visibility. Once the racing got going Piastri made quick work of overtaking pole-sitter Norris on a dominant afternoon for the Australian, who finished 3.415 seconds clear. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ros Russell)

Badminton - Shi, Wang triumph in all-Chinese China Open finals as host dominates home tournament with four titles
Badminton - Shi, Wang triumph in all-Chinese China Open finals as host dominates home tournament with four titles

The Star

time3 hours ago

  • The Star

Badminton - Shi, Wang triumph in all-Chinese China Open finals as host dominates home tournament with four titles

China's Shi Yuqi celebrates after defeating compatriot Wang Zhengxing in the men's singles final at the China Open badminton tournament in Changzhou, in China's eastern Jiangsu province on July 27, 2025. -- Photo by AFP BEIJING (Reuters): Shi Yuqi and Wang Zhiyi lifted the men's and women's titles at the China Open on Sunday (July 27), prevailing in the all-Chinese finals to cap a golden week in Changzhou. It was another strong showing for world number three Shi following his Japan Open title last week. The 29-year-old came back from a game down to beat Wang Zhengxing 14-21 21-14 21-15 in little more than an hour. Wang had a narrow 7-5 lead early in the second game, but Shi took over from there, dominating the rallies and never trailing again. It was Shi's third Super 1000 title of the year after winning the Malaysia Open and the All England Open. In the women's final, defending champion Wang Zhiyi secured a dominant 21-8 21-13 win over Han Yue, who had advanced after South Korea's reigning Olympic champion An Se-young retired injured in the semi-finals. The 24-year-old world number two ended a frustrating run of three straight Super 1000 final defeats this year, all to world number one An. It was Wang's second title of the year, adding to her Malaysia Masters win, where she also beat Han in the final. Wang surged to a 13-4 lead in the opener and though Han tried to claw back in the second game, narrowing the gap to 17-13, Wang's sharp movement and relentless aggression helped her close out the match in just over half an hour. China's supremacy on home soil could not be questioned as foreign players fell at the semi-final stage in all formats except for the men's doubles, which was won by Indonesians Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri. The pair beat Malaysian second seeded duo Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi-Yik 21-15 21-14 and performed the viral "aura farming" Indonesian boat race dance in front of the Chinese crowd, much to their delight. It was the first time in a decade that an unseeded men's pair has won the China Open. In women's doubles, top seeds Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning overcame Zhang Shuxian and Jia Yifan 24-22 17-21 21-14. Top seeds Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping defeated second-seeded Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin 23-21 21-17 to clinch the mixed doubles title. (Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Bengaluru Editing by Christian Radnedge) - Reuters

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store