In what is easily the best goalkeeping performance of the UEFA Women's EURO 2025, Gotham FC's Ann-Katrin Berger made nine saves for Germany as they moved past France in the quarterfinals after winning in penalties 1(6) - 1(5). Germany will next play Spain in the Semifinals on Wednesday, July 23, when Berger will face Gotham teammate Esther González.
Soccer might be a team sport, but Berger is the single greatest reason why the Deutsche Fußball-Nationalmannschaft der Frauen advanced. The 34-year-old kept Germany in the game after the team was reduced to 10 players when VfL Wolfsburg's Kathrin-Julia Hendrich was shown a straight red card in the 13th minute. Berger failed to prevent the penalty awarded to France for that foul. But she made nine saves over 120 minutes of regulation and extra time, with 1.58 goals prevented, earning her a stellar 9.2 rating from FotMob.
Germany equalized when they scored on a set piece in the 25th minute: Chelsea FC's Sjoeke Nüsken headed in a corner delivered by Bayern Munich's Klara Bühl. It was one of two shots on target that Germany had all night, as they finished the game with just 26% possession.
Berger's acrobatic save for Germany | Courtesy UEFA Women's EURO 2025
But Berger and the German defense did enough to outlast France. For their part, the French team looked increasingly frustrated as the game wore on. Some of Berger's saves were routine, but others were so acrobatic and athletic they're sure to make the global highlight reel.
In the 103rd minute, Berger made the save of the tournament when she prevented what would have been a devastating own goal via a poor headed clearance from a German defender. Berger responded quickly to the deflection, moving from one side of the goal to the other and leaping to scoop away the ball with a fully extended left arm.
The goalkeeper paid for the save with a hard landing on her side and shoulder, but she recovered, and was able to stay in the game.
But it was in the penalty shootout that Berger delivered the win for Germany. The goalkeeper saved France's first attempt, with Berger standing still on the line with her hands behind her back as Amel Majri of OL Lyonnes stood at the spot. Majri unleashed a left-footed shot low and to the right, but Berger got there first to deny the midfielder.
With penalties even at 3-3 after four rounds, Berger stepped up to take Germany's fifth attempt. The goalkeeper fired a right-footed shot above the outstretched arms of French goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin of Juventus to give Germany the advantage.
Berger came through for her country one more time when she saved the attempt from Lyonnes defender Alice Sombath.
Now #3 Germany will face #2 Spain in the Semifinal on Wednesday, July 23 at 3:00 pm ET when the two will play at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich (Fox, FS2, TUDN). It will be more than a clash of European heavyweights; it will pit two teammates against each other when the tournament's best goalkeeper in Berger will face the tournament's leading goalscorer in González.
The winner of that game will face the winner of the Semifinal between #5 England and #13 Italy, which will take place one day earlier on Tuesday, July 22 at 3:00 pm ET when they play at the Stade de Genève in Geneva (Fox, Vix Premium Deportes).
