Berger, from cancer to the European Championship semi-final: a tattoo shows the strength of Germany's new heroine.

"All we have is now": this tattoo on the neck of Germany women's goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger hides a scar from treatment for thyroid cancer and sums up well the story that led her from recovery from cancer to becoming the heroine of Germany's qualification for the semi-final of the European Championship (on Wednesday against Spain , while Italy will face England on Tuesday ).

Berger decisive on penalties against France

The thirty-four-year-old, who plays in the USA with Gotham FC , made nine crucial saves in the quarterfinals against France, saving her teammates who were reduced to ten men after Kathrin Hendrich's red card in the 13th minute. These included an incredible save, running backwards to block a miscalculated header from teammate Janina Minge . After the game was tied 1-1 after regulation time and extra time, the match MVP gave Germany the victory in the shootout, scoring her spot kick and saving two more, the first and the last a diving save from Alice Sombath for the final score of 6-5.

Berger, cancer and his return to the field

At the 2022 European Championships, Berger was part of the German squad, but she was diagnosed with a recurrence of the thyroid cancer she had been treated for four years earlier. Now, after her recovery, at 34 years and 269 days, she became the oldest player to make her European Championship debut when she took to the field in the opening match against Poland. "I'm not an emotional person," the German player, who is engaged to fellow England defender Jess Carter , explained after the match. "I'm proud to be here, and everything that happened in 2020 is in the past."