🚨 Penalty shootout drama: Germany reach the Euro semi-finals | OneFootball

Germany is in the semi-finals! Despite the DFB women being a player down since the 13th minute, coach Christian Wück's team fought their way into the penalty shootout and were able to beat the French women.

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The match started immediately with a special kind of excitement. After about twelve minutes, referee Tess Olofsson was unexpectedly called to the VAR monitor by the video assistant. The reason: Kathrin Hendrich had pulled Griedge Mbock's hair during a harmless free kick. The Swedish referee immediately decided on a dismissal and penalty kick for France. Grace Geyoro converted this with a bit of luck to make it 1:0.

📸 Charlotte Wilson - 2025 Getty Images

In the 25th minute, the Germans struck back. After a corner to the near post, Sjoeke Nüsken headed the DFB women back into the game. Although the French women continued to press, there were no really dangerous scoring chances until half-time.

That was to change after the break. In the 57th minute, the Germans' goal was rattled again. After a world-class save by Ann-Kathrin Berger, the ball landed at the feet of Grace Geyoro, who was able to push the ball in from close range on the left. But here too, the video assistant intervened.

📸 Alexander Hassenstein - 2025 Getty Images

The reason: France's Lakrar had actively gone to the ball from an offside position after Berger's save and thus actively interfered in the game. Referee Olofsson correctly decided on offside and disallowed the goal.

In the 68th minute, a cheer echoed through St. Jakobs Park. After a foul by Bacha against Jule Brand, the referee pointed to the spot. But the cheers of the traveling German fans were to be silenced again. Sjoeke Nüsken took the penalty and was denied by France's keeper Peyraud-Magnin.

📸 Charlotte Wilson - 2025 Getty Images

In a hard-fought final phase, it was not to be for both teams. Due to inaccuracies in the final pass or in the finish, neither the French women nor the Germans were really dangerous again. After the eight-minute stoppage time, both teams went to the dressing rooms to catch their breath before extra time.

And here, Ann-Kathrin Berger was to immortalize herself once again in the 103rd minute of play. After a botched header clearance that sailed towards the goal in an arc, the goalkeeper sprinted back and parried the ball with a spectacular diving save on the line.

📸 SEBASTIEN BOZON - AFP or licensors

The rest of the extra time was a pure struggle. The German women threw themselves at every conceivable ball, while the French women, despite their long numerical advantage, could no longer develop the necessary penetration and were also a bit unlucky at the end. In stoppage time, Malard hit the crossbar for France from about 30 meters. The game was to be decided as dramatically as possible. In a penalty shootout.

Germany was allowed to start. Janina Minge went to the spot first and scored to make it 1:0. The first penalty for the French women by Amel Majri was parried directly by the outstanding Ann-Kathrin Berger. The second shot for the Germans was taken by Linda Dallmann, who spectacularly blasted the ball into the corner. Sakina Karchaoui then scored to make it 2:1.

But the DFB women continued to show nerve strength. Rebecca Knaak scored to make it 3:1, before Melvine Malard converted for France to make it 3:2. Then a setback for the German national players. Sara Däbritz missed the fourth penalty against the crossbar - Sandy Baltimore was able to equalize to 3:3.

📸 FABRICE COFFRINI - AFP or licensors

Ann-Kathrin Berger, Oriane Jean-François, Klara Bühl and Melween N'Dongala were also able to convert their penalties. Then it was Sjoeke Nüsken's turn. After the midfielder had missed her penalty in regular time, the Chelsea player scored to retake the lead for the Germans. France's Alice Sombath had to go to the spot next. And again, Ann-Kathrin Berger was there. The woman who is soon running out of superlatives, saved the penalty and sealed the deal. Germany is in the semi-finals against Spain.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 SEBASTIEN BOZON - AFP or licensors