Ten-player Germany stun France after shootout
France 1 - 1 Germany - Germany won 6-5 on penalties
Germany pulled off a remarkable victory over France to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2025, winning a dramatic penalty shootout despite playing with 10 players for nearly 110 minutes.
Author | Jamie P
Stadium | St. Jakob-Park
The eight-time champions lost Kathrin Hendrich to a straight red card in the 13th minute after the defender was caught pulling Griedge Mbock’s hair in the box. Grace Geyoro converted the resulting penalty to give France an early lead.
What followed was a display of remarkable discipline and resolve from Christian Wück’s side, who dug deep to level through Sjoeke Nüsken’s header and then held firm through extra time before triumphing 6-5 in the shootout.
Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was the standout performer. After a string of impressive saves in normal and extra time, she made the decisive stop to deny Alice Sombath and send Germany through to a semi-final against world champions Spain.
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Hendrich’s dismissal came after a VAR review and left Germany facing an uphill battle. But they responded swiftly, with Nüsken’s glancing header restoring parity and injecting belief into the depleted side.
France thought they had reclaimed the lead when Delphine Cascarino found the net, but the effort was ruled out for offside. Another scare came when Geyoro struck again, only for the goal to be chalked off due to Maëlle Lakrar’s position in the build-up.
Germany could have taken the lead themselves when Jule Brand was brought down by Selma Bacha, but Nüsken saw her penalty saved by Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.
After a bruising 120 minutes, the tie went to penalties, where Germany held their nerve. Six of their seven spot-kicks found the net, while Berger denied both Amel Majri and Sombath to secure victory.
It was a familiar story for France, who have now exited at the quarter-final stage of the Euros on four occasions – more than any other side. Germany, meanwhile, will head to Zurich full of momentum for Wednesday’s semi-final against a formidable Spanish side.
