Very few have expected that Ann-Katrin Berger will be a permanent topic at the European Championship. But the goalkeeper knows how to deal with her critics.
Kim Steinke reports from Zurich
At the latest since the second group game at the women of women between Germany and Denmark (2-1), Ann-Katrin Berger focuses on-but not because of spectacular parades. Rather, a discussion has flared up for her style of play: Is the 34-year-old still the right one to guard the German goal?
The starting point was initially some risky dribbles in the building game, followed by sometimes inaccurate passes and questionable decisions. The debate tightened after the disappointing 1: 4 against Sweden, in which Berger seemed uncertain several times.
The goalkeeper of NY/NJ Gotham reacted to the criticism of her performance. The discussions in the media and social networks passed her. “Since I left Germany, I no longer read messages. I am no longer active on social media anyway,” Berger commented on the discussion about herself at the press conference in Zurich on Wednesday. She didn’t notice much before. “Whatever is written, you have to tell me,” said the 34-year-old towards the journalists.
Berger’s steadfastness does not come from somewhere. She defeated thyroid cancer twice – she received the first diagnosis in 2017, the second in 2022. She has already demonstrated her qualities in terms of sport. Last year, Berger was at the feet of the football world: First the celebrated Olympic heroine was after she led Germany to the bronze medal through parried penalty in the quarter-finals against Canada and in the game for third place against Spain, then she received the award as a footballer of the year. Berger knows that she can also survive difficult phases.
She is currently experiencing one at the European Championship. In Switzerland, because of her style of play, she is the most discussed player in the squad of national coach Christian Wück. Your active participation in building the game and your high positioning game are associated with a certain risk – similar to Manuel Neuer. If it is fine, Ann-Katrin Berger, who is mostly called “Anne” in the team, does a difference. If it goes wrong, it becomes dangerous immediately. In the 1: 4 against Sweden, for example, Berger met two hair -raising passes that could have ended in one goal.
After three brave scenes in the game before against Denmark, national coach Wück had announced a conversation with his number one. A few days later, the 52-year-old assured that the topic was clarified, and a debate was never arisen. Internally, the discussion about Berger is far smaller than in public.
DFB sports director Nia Künzer made it clear on Monday: “We appreciate Anne very much. We have no goalkeeper discussion.” And ex-national goalkeeper Almuth Schult also defended Berger. In the SZ-Podcast “and now for sport” she praised the experience and game intelligence of the keeper: “She has automatisms that are difficult to adapt. Not everyone can help shape the game.”
Berger stays calm in all of this. “To say it in a nice way: I am actually not interested in who somehow criticized outside of the football edge,” said Berger on Wednesday: “I am naturally a very critical person, so I don’t really need to hear criticism from someone who was never in goal.”