France 1-1 Germany [AET 5-6 on pens]: Germany through to the semi-final after a game of high drama | OneFootball

After a host of twists and turns, Germany scraped past France at St. Jakob-Park to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2025.

Germany were down to 10 players having played just 13 minutes, as Kathrin Hendrich pulled Gridge Mbock’s hair when a free-kick was taken. VAR intervened and a straight red card was given, making them the first team to concede two back-to-back red cards at the tournament.

Grace Geyoro stepped up and capitalized from the spot, but just 10 minutes later, Sjoeke Nüsken equalized as she headed in Klara Bühl’s corner. France scored two more goals but both were ruled offside.

Fifty fouls were counted, five yellow cards and only one red. Neither side was able to score a winner, and after extra-time, Germany won 6-5 on penalties. Simply put: a game of high drama but with questions regarding the quality.

As it happened

The game started in chaos and drama. France took a free-kick aimed at Germany’s box, and when the shot was taken, Hendrich pulled Mbock’s hair, even though neither were going for the ball. VAR intervened with the referee’s decision and a straight red card was given, making Germany have to survive the remaining 77 minutes (plus extra-time) with only 10 players on the pitch. Geyoro stepped up to take the penalty and capitalized from the spot, giving France the lead.

Less than five minutes later, Germany lost their right-back, as Sarai Linder was subbed off with an ankle injury, being replaced by Sophia Kleinherne.

France seemed to be the stronger side, but Germany did soon level the score. Just one minute after Selma Bacha took a shot from distance in an attempt to double France’s lead, Les Bleus conceded a corner which was taken by Klara Bühl. Nüsken was on the receiving end and headed it past Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, equalizing for Germany.

Following their equaliser, Germany defended for their lives. Everything seemed to be going in France’s favour, as well as the referee’s decisions throughout the entirety of the game. Swedish referee Tess Olofsson blew the whistle for a grand total of 50 fouls and awarded two yellow cards to France’s Maëlle Lakrar and Kadidiatou Diani respectively, as well as three to Germany’s Sjoeke Nüsken, Jule Brand & Franziska Kett. Then, there was the red card to Germany’s Hendrich. At times, it felt as though the players’ welfare was genuinely at risk.

France did score two more goals in regular time, but both were ruled offside. Just before halftime, Delphine Cascarino scored a backheel in the far-post, assisted by Geyoro, but was ruled offside. And on the hour mark, they did the same again, as Geyoro capitalised on an initial save from Ann-Katrin Berger, but Maëlle Lakrar was said to have intervened with play, seeing the goal ruled out.

Les Bleus conceded a penalty just before the 70th minute after Bacha took Jule Brand down in the box. Nüsken stepped up, but France’s Peyraud-Magnin made the save, keeping the score level.

The game went to extra time, in which Berger made an incredible goal line save, and prevented an own goal from Janina Minge going in. The defender had made a defensive header, but instead of aiming for the backline, the ball went straight to her own goal and would’ve crossed the line had Berger not intervened.

And just before the end of extra time, France could have scored the winner. Melvine Malard took a shot from over 30 yards out, but hit the bar.

The game went to penalties. Fourteen penalties were taken, Germany eventually taking the win. They were resilient throughout the entirety of this game and deserved to be the ones to go through.

France have been knocked out of yet another major tournament. They have been to nine major tournament quarter finals and only won once. They have been to seven Euros, five World Cups , three Olympics and never made it to the final. Tonight’s performance reflected France’s history at major tournaments: a great start to the tournament and a poor ending. Out of 12 games between the two sides, France have lost all of them. This is their fourth quarter final lost in a row, more than any other nation.

Christian Wück’s side will play their hard-earned semi-final against Spain on Wednesday at 21:00 CET [20:00 BST] at the Stadion Letzigrund in Zürich. Germany’s Nüsken and Hendrich will both miss the match, Nüsken due to two yellow cards and Hendrich because of her red.

The lineups

FRA: Peyraud-Magnin; De Almeida, Mbock Bathy, Lakrar, Bacha; Geyoro, Jean-François, Karcaoui; Cascarino, Katoto, Diani

GER: Berger; Linder, Hendrich, Minge, Knaak, Kett; Brand, Senss, Nüsken, Bühl; Hoffmann