Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger’s heroics in the penalty shootout helped Germany beat France and book a semifinal spot in the Women’s European Championships in Basel, Switzerland.
She had the save of the tournament so far, two stops in the penalty shootout and a successful spot kick of her own in the match which had ended 1-1 after extra-time.
The Gotham FC goalkeeper was — unsurprisingly — named player of the match and her quarterfinal-winning performance becomes all the more special when one gets to know of her journey to this point.
Berger was part of the Germany squad that lost to England in the final of Euro 2022, although she was an unused substitute. She revealed afterward that she had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer for a second time during that tournament.
“Obviously the time here just makes me proud to be here and whatever happened in 2022 is in the past and I am looking forward now to the future and, for me now, I live my best life and I am in the semifinal,” Berger said.
| Photo Credit:
AP
“Obviously the time here just makes me proud to be here and whatever happened in 2022 is in the past and I am looking forward now to the future and, for me now, I live my best life and I am in the semifinal,” Berger said.
| Photo Credit:
AP
She managed to beat the disease again and the only outward sign is a tattoo on her neck with the phrase “All we have is now” that she got done to cover the scars.
“I feel like I’m not a really emotional person,” Berger said. “I am glad I’m here and I am glad that I have the team I have.
The ‘keeper was first diagnosed with cancer in 2017 while she was a Birmingham City player. Despite her ilness, she went on to be named in the Professional Footballers’ Association’s (PFA) Team of the Year.
In 2019, she moved to Chelsea and won four consecutive Women’s Super League titles during her stay at the London-based club.
“Obviously the time here just makes me proud to be here and whatever happened in 2022 is in the past and I am looking forward now to the future and, for me now, I live my best life and I am in the semifinal,” she added.
Germany will face world champion Spain in the last four.
(With inputs from AP)
