As of: October 24, 2025 7:40 p.m
Germany won the semi-final first leg of the Football Nations League against France. The DFB women narrowly won in Düsseldorf on Friday evening, but deservedly won 1-0 (0-0) after a courageous performance.
With a powerful shot in the 79th minute, Klara Bühl caused national coach Christian Wück to celebrate – and the around 40,000 fans in the Düsseldorf Arena. It was a well-deserved reward for a strong performance by the German footballers in terms of running and fighting – and at times also in terms of play.
97 days after the memorable one Quarterfinals at the European Football Championship in Switzerlandin which Germany, being outnumbered, initially fought their way to penalties and won dramatically, both teams met again. And like in the summer in Basel, the DFB women and “Les Bleues” met on equal terms.
The better team with the clearer opportunities was the Wück team, which – as at the European Championships – lacked efficiency for a long time. Thanks to Bühl’s goal of the day, Germany now has a good starting position ahead of the second leg on Tuesday in Caen (9:10 p.m.).
Anyomi and Wamser with first opportunities
National coach Wück had put Nicole Anyomi, whom he had not taken into account for the European Championship, straight back into the center of the attack and the Frankfurt player had the first good opportunity. Elisa Senß asserted herself robustly in midfield and passed to the right to Carlotta Wamser, whose cross Anyomi tipped towards the goal. Pauline Peyraud-Magnin made a strong save (2nd). And a minute later, France’s goalkeeper was there, this time against Wamser.
The German footballers were unlucky in the 6th minute because neither referee Ivana Projkovska (North Macedonia) nor the VAR considered Maelle Lakrar’s entry against Franziska Kett to be worthy of a penalty, even though the French defender was on the foot of the German defender in the penalty area.
A close game: Germany’s Jule Brand (l.) in a duel with France’s Kadidiatou Diani.
The DFB women played a strong initial phase, were extremely happy to run, strong in duels and as a result repeatedly won the ball in the midfield. As a result, they repeatedly tried to get in front of the visitors’ goal with quick transition play. They were initially impressed and only gradually got into the game. Delphine Cascarino had a first finish (13th).
Katoto hit doesn’t count
But the Wück team initially remained more dangerous: Klara Bühl moved in from the left side and shot – her shot just missed the right post (20th). The longer the game lasted, the more evenly the French played the game. Stina Johannes, who stood between the posts as a replacement for the injured penalty hero of the quarter-final Ann-Katrin Berger, scratched a Cascarino cracker from the right corner. Defender Kathrin Hendrich finally clarified the situation (22nd).
Coach Laurent Bonadei’s team was now in control and seemingly took the lead in the 34th minute. Marie-Antoinette Katoto skillfully took a cross from captain Onema Geyoro with her chest and hit the left corner with her right. However, Geyoro, who provided the assist, was sidelined during the creation. Lucky for the DFB women that the break went goalless.
Nüsken, again and again Nüsken
The second half started off much less spectacularly than the first half. Both teams neutralized each other in midfield for almost ten minutes until Germany suddenly had a huge chance to take the lead: captain Giulia Gwinn hit a perfect cross from the right to Sjoeke Nüsken, who had recently been injured with a cut on her eyebrow. The midfielder’s header flew just past the right post (55′). And just two minutes later, Anyomi missed the lead for the second time when she chased another Bühl cross over the goal.
But the main protagonist in these minutes remained Nüsken. The Chelsea FC player, who played a strong game overall, also missed her second and third chances. First her shot went just wide with her back to the goal (66th), then she brought the ball free-standing from seven meters only to Peyraud-Magnin (69th).
Bühl scores powerfully to make it 1-0
It was now a proliferation of chances that took revenge almost a short time later: Substitute Melvine Malard only aimed just over – seconds after being substituted on – (71′) and then failed from a few meters past Johannes, who parried brilliantly (73′).
However, the Germans remained the better team overall, and they were rewarded eleven minutes before the end: Bühl got the ball on the left side after a lateral shift, moved to the middle and chased the ball from around 18 meters next to the left post. A great goal as a reward for the hard work of Bühl – and the DFB women as a whole.