Ann-Katrin Berger celebrates after helping the German women's team reach the semi-finals of Euro 2025 - Photo: Reuters
These words are meaningful not only to Berger but also mark her journey of recovery from cancer and help to mask the scars from her treatment.
Berger was part of the German women's national team that reached the Euro 2022 final. However, throughout the tournament, she couldn't be happy knowing that her thyroid cancer had relapsed for the second time after four years of remission. Now, after three years of continued treatment, Berger has not only fully recovered but has also returned to playing at the highest level for her country.
The 34-year-old female player was the hero for the German team when she successfully saved two penalties, helping her team defeat France 6-5 in the penalty shootout in the Euro 2025 quarter-finals.
Before entering this tense tie-breaker, Berger also played brilliantly with many saves, helping Germany, with 10 men, draw 1-1 with France after 120 minutes. Germany were reduced to ten men in the 13th minute after Kathrin Hendrich received a direct red card for pulling Griedge Mbock's hair in the penalty area.
According to statistics, in this match, Berger made 9 saves – the most by a goalkeeper in a Euro knockout match since 2013. After the match, the world press called Berger's performance "the best performance of all time." And her inspiring story continues to spread throughout the world.
German women's midfielder Sjoeke Nusken said she was always confident they would win on penalties because she knew Berger was in goal. Nusken told BBC Sports: "I knew we had Ann-Katrin Berger. She's a fantastic goalkeeper. Very calm, intelligent, and I knew Berger would save the penalties."
Berger was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2017 while playing for Birmingham City. But 76 days later, she was back and was named in the Professional Footballers' Association's Team of the Year.
She then had a successful spell at Chelsea, winning five Women's Super League titles, before moving to Gotham FC in the United States in 2024.
When asked to recount his journey from his cancer diagnosis to the present day, Berger shared: "I'm not an emotional person. The time I've spent here makes me proud. Whatever happened in 2022 is in the past; I'm looking to the future. Now I'm living the best life I can, and I've reached the semi-finals of Euro 2025 with the German national team."
In the semi-final match taking place in the early hours of July 24th, the German women's team will face the top contender for the championship, Spain. This will be another challenge for goalkeeper Berger, as the Spanish women's team is superior to the other teams in the tournament and possesses a very formidable attacking line.
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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguoi-hung-cua-tuyen-nu-duc-20250722084949914.htm
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