Germany produced a remarkable display of resilience to defeat France 6-5 in a dramatic penalty shootout on Saturday, advancing to the semi-finals of the UEFA Women’s European Championship after playing for over 100 minutes with just ten players.
Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was the hero for the eight-time champions, making a string of crucial saves throughout the match before denying Alice Sombath in the tense shootout to seal a famous victory.
The quarter-final clash was thrown into chaos in the 13th minute when German defender Kathrin Hendrich was shown a straight red card after a VAR review for pulling the hair of Griedge Mbock inside the penalty area. Grace Geyoro calmly converted the resulting spot-kick to give France an early lead and a one-player advantage.
However, Germany responded with astonishing defiance, equalising just minutes later when Sjoeke Nusken scored with a glancing header.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Christian Wuck’s side delivered a stubborn and organized defensive performance, frustrating a French team that struggled to capitalize on their advantage. France had two goals disallowed for offside following VAR checks, while Germany’s Nusken missed a second-half penalty that could have won the game in normal time.
After a goalless period of extra time, the tie was decided from the spot. In a high-pressure shootout, Berger made two vital saves, ultimately securing Germany’s place in the last four.
The hard-earned reward for their efforts is a semi-final encounter with world champions Spain on Wednesday in Zurich. For France, it marks another heartbreaking quarter-final exit from a major tournament, the fourth time they have been eliminated at this stage of the European Championship.
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