Criticized at the beginning of UEFA euros for its ugly crossings and dribbling in its area, Ann-Katrin Berger became a national hero in Germany after an iconic salvation and life punishment saves to help beat France in the quarterfinals. The voted player of the match reaches the semifinals against Spain with a new status, but the same steadfast opinion.

102 minutes, parc Saint-Jacques, Basel. For a few seconds, German and French fans fell silent while experienced central defender Janina Minge led a cross from goal -bound Sakina Karchaoui. She was ready to lobby her goalkeeper.

But then it happened unimaginable: Ann-Katrin Berger He took a few steps and intervened greatly to push a ball heading to the upper corner. The French thought they had scored a wonderful goal in extra time. The German goalkeeper decided otherwise.

Was such a memorable saving that Charlotte Harpur BY AthleticSurprised in the press box, wrote: “There is nothing like that as the best saving of all time (…), but Berger is now part of that conversation.”

ANTI FranceBerger made a total of 9 savings and made two life stops in the exchange of penalties to disgust Les Bleues, despite being bigger since the 14th minute and resting Kathrin Hendrich.

It ended with the match price player.

“I’m not a very exciting person“She said at the press conference.

“I’m just happy and proud to be here, be on this team.”

In the last whistle, the competition manufacturers decided to film its proximity, and Berger took the opportunity to pay a quick tribute to her grandfather, who had just turned 92. But she was quickly upset and asked the cameraman to film the rest of the team celebrating with fans: “Hey, film the team too, not just me. The team is just as important!”

A quiet force for sewing new talent

The 34-year-old goalkeeper, who plays for Gotham in the American Women’s League, believes it was “Just doing its work”despite making some crucial savings in the penalty break. It is a calm force, capable of calming young players like Jule Brand, who was full of energy for 120 minutes, or Sioeke Nüsken, who scored the draw and celebrated as a worm on the last whistle.

“It is so quiet, so intelligent. I knew it would save punishments,” She told the mixed area afterwards, while winger Klara Buhl described it as “Pillar of calm in the team”with it “Extraordinary Life experience”.

A tranquility and relativity that Ann-Katrin Berger really draws from a life that has been away from the simple. In 2017, while playing for Birmingham City, her first case of thyroid cancer was diagnosed. After a quick return to the field six months later, Berger withdrew in late August 2022, as he just spent the summer on the DFB bench during a euro where Germany lost to England in the semifinals.

Her story with eight times European champions is also far from directly: the player who grew up playing as a striker and midfielder before being set at the age of 16 because she had “Become too lazy to run”He waited until she was 27 and moved to Chelsea to pull the German shirt for the first time.

Following her first cap in a Euro 2022 qualifier against Ireland, she used the historical elimination of Germany in the 2023 World Cup group stage to promote the number one country, taking Merle Frohms’ place.

2024 Olympic Games Heroine

A beginner at the Olympic Games, where the DFB ended the third, Berger played in all six games and even scored a penalty after rescuing two against Canada in the quarterfinals. She even rescued the 90th minute penalty of Alexia Putellas in third-country play-off to help Germany secure bronze. An unpleasant memory for the winner of the Spanish balloon, who will face the “German wall” again in semifinals Wednesday.

But while Berger has placed himself as the undisputed goalkeeper of Germany’s first election, and was reinforced by Christian Wuck when he took on the responsibility of the national team in August 2024, the 34-year-old almost found himself on the bench after a chaotic start at Euro 2025.

The German goalkeeper made three full -time savings against a Sweden The side that really did not need help after receiving a 3-1 lead by half the time, but its coach subjected it, insisting that Germany “wouldn’t last long” In the competition if she continued to dribble in her area.

A complicated start of the euro

“To say beautifully, I’m not really interested in those who criticize one way or another outside the football field,” answered Ann-Qatrin Berger to its offenders, happy that this bad piece had happened to her “Now and not in the quarter -finals.” I am very critical of nature, so I really do not need to hear criticism from someone who has never been in purpose. “

After her stellar performance against Les Bleues, the time has come for praise rather than criticism. The 34-year-old, who has only 26 hats in her name, is even praised by legend Lothar Matthaus, the captain of Germany FIFA World Cup FIFA 1990, who believes Berger has “The quality and ambition to lead the team in a great achievement.”

The goalkeeper, for her part, is at least to dream of reaching the finals, as he did in 2022, for very personal reasons: “My grandfather returned 92 years old a few days ago. My motivation is to bring him to the final. He said the quarterfinals and semifinals are not worth it.”