Women’s Euro 2025 | Ann-Kathrin Berger speaks on sensational save, reveals she forgot to look at PSO “cheat sheet”

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German women’s national team keeper Ann-Katrin Berger – already very much at the center-of-attention during the ongoing Women’s European Championship – didn’t wish to take too much of the spotlight after Saturday evening’s quarterfinal PSO win. The 34-year-old nevertheless didn’t have much of a choice. Berger’s two saves and one conversion led the DFB-Frauen to the tournament semi-finals. 

Of even more critical importance, a crucial save on an effort in the 103rd-minute ensured that the Germans got the privilege of entering the penalty lottery in the first place. Squad captain Janina Minge inadvertently headed the ball towards her own goal line. Somehow, Berger leapt back in time to swat the ball away from the goal line. 

”I don’t know how I got there, to be honest,” Berger told ZDF when asked about the scene afterwards. “I’m not that proud of myself. I’m proud of the team. Playing 110 or 100 minutes with ten women on the pitch requires tremendous effort. I just did my part, but the team did all the work. That’s why I always find it a shame that I, as the goalkeeper, get the applause.“

Speaking later on in the mixed zone, Berger took the opportunity to even criticize herself for not performing terribly well in the shoot out. This despite the fact that her teammates considered her the hero of the evening. Broadcast cameras caught the keeper’s pre-prepared PSO “cheat sheet” taped to her water bottle. Berger revealed afterwards that she hadn’t even looked at it.

“My goalkeeper coach put so much effort into it, but I just didn’t look” Berger said. “I forgot. I’m the type of person who lives a little more in the moment. Sometimes I jump too early, and I know that myself. I’ll probably get a bit of a telling-off from our national coach because he also said, ‘You always jump in the same corner, and it’s the wrong one.’“

“Overall, we earned respect after the Sweden game,” Berger also noted. “Few believed in us. Now everyone can fear us.“

GGFN | Peter Weis