Latest news with #Ann-Katrin Berger
CNN
3 days ago
- 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
3 days ago
- 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
3 days ago
- 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.
