Ten-Woman Germany Triumphs Over France in Dramatic Penalty Shootout to Reach Euro 2025 Semifinals
In a thrilling display of resilience and determination, ten-woman Germany edged past France in a dramatic penalty shootout, winning 6-5 after a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time. This victory secures Germany’s spot in the semifinals of the Women’s Euro 2025, where they will face world champions Spain on Wednesday in Zurich.
The match, held at St. Jacob’s Park, unfolded under intense pressure as Germany found themselves at a disadvantage early on. Just 15 minutes into the game, Kathrin Hendrich received a red card and conceded a penalty, from which Grace Geyoro expertly converted, giving France a 1-0 lead.
Despite being down to ten players, Germany demonstrated remarkable tenacity and quickly regrouped. Just ten minutes later, Sjoeke Nuesken found the equalizer, striking back to level the scores at 1-1, much to the delight of the raucous German supporters who had traveled across the border.
As the match progressed, Germany’s defense held strong against a determined French attack, with both teams battling fiercely but unable to break the deadlock in regulation or extra time. The tension mounted as the match headed into penalties, where Alice Sombath stepped up for France with the chance to keep her team’s hopes alive.
However, Sombath’s miss proved pivotal, allowing Germany to celebrate their hard-fought victory. The German fans erupted as their team advanced to the semifinals, maintaining an impressive record of never losing to France in a major summer tournament.
