Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
Sport
Paul Myers

Germany beat France on penalties to set up Spain semi-final at women's Euros

German players celebrate after winning the penalty shoot-out against France in the quarter-final at the women's European championships in Switzerland. AP - Martin Meissner

Germany moved into the semi-finals at the 2025 women's European championships on Saturday night following a penalty shoot-out victory over France.

Germany were reduced to 10 players only 13 minutes into the game at St Jakob Park in Basel.

Kathrin Hendrich pulled Griedge Mbock’s hair in the penalty area and referee Tess Olofsson awarded a spot kick and dismissed Hendrich for her foul play.

Grace Geyoro thrashed her shot past the Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.

The French, who scored 11 goals in their three games in Group D, failed to exploit their early advantage.

And within a quarter of an hour, Germany were level at 1-1.

From Klara Bühl's corner, Sjoeke Nüsken guided a header over the France goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.

Delphine Cascarino thought she restored France’s lead just before half-time but it was ruled out for offside.

France had another strike chalked off after the break following a lengthy review by the video assistant referees.

Both sets of players were waiting to restart proceedings when Olofsson ruled out Geyoro’s strike for an offside in the build-up.

Germany miss penalty

Nüsken could have given Germany the lead midway through the second half but the 24-year-old Chelsea striker saw Peyraud-Magnin fly to her left to parry the effort.

In extra-time, it was Berger's turn for heroics.

Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger clawed away a German defender's wayward header to keep her team at 1-1 in their quarter-final clash against France in Basel. AFP - SEBASTIEN BOZON

The 34-year-old appeared to have been caught out by Janina Minge's misdirected header but she back-pedalled and leaped to scoop away the ball off the goal-line.

The acrobatics kept the score level and saved Minge's blushes.

Both players converted their spot kicks during a shoot-out that went to sudden death after both teams missed one of the regulation five penalties.

After Buhl and Melween Ndongala converted for Germany and France respectively, Nüsken atoned for her earlier miss with an emphatic finish to give Germany a 6-5 lead.

Fittingly, Berger saved Alice Sombath's shot to launch the German celebrations.

They will take on the world champions Spain on Wednesday night in Zurich for a place in the final on 27 July.

.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.