Berger's Journey From Cancer To Shootout Hero

All we person is now.

Those 5 words are tattooed connected nan cervix of Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.

Not only do nan words themselves clasp meaning to Berger, but they physically people her travel of betterment from cancer, covering up scars from her treatment.

Berger had been successful nan Germany squad that reached nan last of Euro 2022, but during nan tourney she had learned her thyroid crab was backmost for a 2nd clip aft 4 years of being cancer-free.

Fast-forward 3 years and Berger has not only made a afloat recovery, but she is backmost performing astatine nan highest level for her country.

The 34-year-old was Germany's hero, making 2 decisive saves successful a punishment shootout, arsenic they defeated France successful a chaotic quarter-final astatine Euro 2025 connected Saturday.

After playing pinch only 10 players from nan 13th infinitesimal against France - Kathrin Hendrich was sent disconnected for foolishly pulling Griedge Mbock by her hairsbreadth successful nan punishment area - Christian Wuck's broadside fought brilliantly to unit other clip and past penalties.

Even successful an outstanding squad performance, wherever Germany survived against nan odds, Berger stood out.

Before her punishment heroics, she had made 9 saves - nan astir by a goalkeeper successful a Euros knockout shape lucifer since 2013.

She saved Germany successful aggregate match-defining moments, including a diving one-handed prevention to contradict a backwards header from her ain player.

Then came nan shootout. She saved Amel Majri's opening spot-kick to put Germany ahead, scored a punishment herself, past made judge Sara Dabritz's miss was not costly by pulling disconnected a diving prevention to support Alice Sombath out.

"I americium not really an affectional person," Berger said erstwhile asked to bespeak connected her travel from crab test to this moment.

"The clip present conscionable makes maine proud to beryllium here. Whatever happened successful 2022 is successful nan past, I'm looking guardant to nan early and now I unrecorded my champion life and I americium successful a semi-final."

Even playing astatine a European Championship has been a agelong clip coming for Berger, who is engaged to England defender Jess Carter.

Aged 34 years 269 days, she became Germany's oldest subordinate to look astatine nan Euros erstwhile making her title debut successful their opening crippled against Poland.

Berger was was first diagnosed pinch crab successful 2017 while playing for Birmingham City, but she returned to shot 76 days later and went connected to beryllium named successful nan Professional Footballers' Association squad of nan year.

She past enjoyed an highly successful spell astatine Chelsea, winning 5 Women's Super League titles earlier moving to US broadside Gotham FC past year.

"She is simply a subordinate who has had utmost experiences," Wuck said aft nan game.

"That is simply a very important characteristic trait. I deliberation her religion and pathway successful life has made judge she is patient, and nan patience and calmness she brings to nan squad she proved today."

Berger, who was named subordinate of nan match, said reporters should not attraction connected her performance.

"All nan in installments should spell to nan squad and not me. Maybe it was nan decisive infinitesimal successful punishment shootout, but everyone present should talk astir nan capacity of nan squad because that was astonishing and incredible," she said.

Germany midfielder Sjoeke Nusken said she was ever assured they would triumph connected penalties, knowing Berger was betwixt nan posts.

"I knew we had Ann-Katrin Berger, truthful we are very bully successful this," she said.

"She is an astonishing goalkeeper. She is truthful calm, she is truthful clever and I knew she would prevention penalties. We are very happy she is successful our team."

Germany's triumph was nan 2nd quarter-final to beryllium decided by penalties aft England hit Sweden successful a shootout that lacked value compared to Germany and France's display.

"This is 2 outstanding performances from goalkeepers that we person seen astir recently," said erstwhile England keeper Karen Bardsley.

"Hannah Hampton won subordinate of nan lucifer against Sweden. Through a somewhat biased lens, I americium truthful pleased to spot goalkeepers get nan in installments they deserve.

"I'm not German but I would beryllium truthful proud to support these girls pinch nan measurement they played this crippled retired successful specified difficult circumstances.

"This is simply a existent players' capacity tonight. I've been really impressed; Germany showed immoderate existent grit."