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- 'We wonder when luck will finally smile on us' - Geyoro rues France's quarter-final exit
'We wonder when luck will finally smile on us' - Geyoro rues France's quarter-final exit
France had a player advantage for much of the quarter-final against Germany, but could not make it count as they suffered a shootout defeat.
Grace Geyoro questioned when luck "will finally smile on us" after France suffered penalty-shootout heartbreak against Germany at Euro 2025.
France drew 1-1 with Germany in normal time of their quarter-final, despite having a player advantage after Kathrin Hendrich's 13th-minute red card. Geyoro scored the resulting spot-kick, but Sjoeke Nusken equalised 10 minutes later.
They also had two goals disallowed, and Melvine Malard struck the woodwork in stoppage time of extra time.
Amel Majri and Alice Sombath then both saw penalties saved by Ann-Katrin Berger in the shootout, sending them crashing out of the tournament.
Since the round was introduced at Euro 2009, France have been eliminated from the Euros at the quarter-final stage more often than any other nation (four times).
And Geyoro, who became France's all-time leading scorer at the tournament with her penalty (five goals overall), was left to rue a disappointing result.
"It's very cruel, very difficult," she told TF1. "We don't realise.
"There is a lot of frustration. We gave everything, we created chances, we did everything, we wonder when luck will finally smile on us. It's difficult."
France are the first team in Women's Euros history to be eliminated via a penalty shootout on three occasions, also losing in this manner in quarter-final ties against the Netherlands in 2009 and Denmark in 2013. Overall, they have lost four shootouts in a row across major tournaments.
Les Bleues had dominated throughout the 120 minutes, though, recording 2.1 expected goals (xG) from their 18 shots, with nine on target.
France also had 74.4% possession throughout, 44 touches in the opposition box and 103 final-third entries, but struggled to get past a resolute Germany.
Head coach Laurent Bonadei praised Germany for their effort and noted that it was the little details that decide matches like this.
"Disappointment and sadness for the girls who gave everything," he told TF1. "We have to admit that Germany played a heroic match.
"After the penalty shootout, it's difficult, we know that. I thought the team gave it their all. There are two teams on the pitch. We also have to take our hats off to Germany.
"There wasn't much missing. Especially after what we had done in the group stage, I thought we were getting stronger. But Germany played a good game.
"It's a disappointment because we believe in it. The team is evolving, it is improving. The level is very high. I always said that we were outsiders because we see that this German team is solid.
"In these games, it's about small details. We didn't know how to take advantage of this numerical superiority. That's what makes me a little frustrated in this match."