Ten-Woman Germany Edges France in Thrilling Penalty Shootout to Reach Euro 2025 Semifinals
Germany overcame a significant early setback to defeat France 6-5 on penalties in a captivating UEFA Women's Euro 2025 quarterfinal match on Saturday, July 19, 2025. The game ended 1-1 after extra time, setting the stage for a dramatic shootout where goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger emerged as the hero.
The victory propels Germany, the record eight-time European champions, into their 11th Women's Euro semifinal, while France's quarterfinal woes continue, marking their seventh exit at this stage in their last nine major tournaments.
Early Red Card Sets the Stage for a Dramatic Match
The match took a dramatic turn in the 13th minute when German midfielder Kathrin Hendrich received a straight red card for pulling the hair of France captain Griedge Mbock. This left Germany with only 10 players for the vast majority of the game, forcing them to dig deep and showcase remarkable resilience.
Penalty Conversions and Missed Opportunities
France seized the initiative with an early penalty converted by Grace Geyoro. However, Germany quickly responded, with Sjoeke Nüsken leveling the score just 10 minutes later. Despite being a player down, Germany continued to battle, and France's goalkeeper, Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, even saved a penalty in the second half, keeping the score level.
Ann-Katrin Berger: The Hero of the Hour
German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger delivered a stellar performance, proving to be the decisive factor in Germany's victory. She made a crucial save in extra time to prevent an own goal and then went on to save two penalties in the nail-biting shootout. Adding to her heroics, Berger also confidently converted her own penalty kick.
UEFA's Technical Observer panel lauded Berger's contribution: "Berger saved two penalties and scored her own, but she also showed great composure during the game, contributing both in possession and between the posts, notably with her big save in extra-time."
France's Quarterfinal Curse Strikes Again
Despite entering the knockout stage with a flawless group stage record – three wins and 11 goals – France failed to capitalize on their player advantage. This loss extends their quarterfinal struggles, marking another disappointing exit at this stage of a major tournament.
Following the match, France coach Laurent Bonadei said, "I don't think we have a psychological problem. We have opponents of quality, and it gets harder and harder. But I think my players gave us hope; Rome wasn't built in a day."
Germany to Face Spain in Semifinal Clash
With their quarterfinal victory secured, Germany now faces a formidable challenge in the semifinals against World Cup winner Spain. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 21:00 CET in Zurich.
Spain has been a dominant force in the tournament, reaching the semifinals for the first time in 28 years and boasting a tournament-leading 16 goals.
Record Attendance and Growing Interest in Women's Football
The quarterfinal match between France and Germany at St. Jakob-Park in Basel drew a record crowd of 34,128 spectators, setting a new Women's Euro quarterfinal attendance record. The group stage as a whole attracted an impressive 461,582 attendees, marking the highest-attended Women's Euro group stage in history.
VAR and Refereeing Decisions Under Scrutiny
The match was not without its controversial moments, particularly concerning refereeing decisions and the use of VAR. The red card issued to Kathrin Hendrich for hair-pulling sparked considerable debate, as did the disallowing of two French goals for offside. These decisions inevitably fueled discussions about the impact and effectiveness of VAR in women's football.
Germany player Janina Minge stated, "You could see that we are ready for big things and capable of big things."
Looking Ahead to the Euro 2025 Final
The Women's Euro 2025 final is scheduled for Sunday, July 27, 2025, and will be held at St. Jakob-Park in Basel. The tournament has showcased the increasing investment and growing popularity of women's football, with record prize money (€41 million), enhanced club benefits, and the largest sponsorship program for a UEFA women's tournament to date.
