Better to lose now than in knockout round, says Germanys Berger

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Soccer Football - UEFA Womens Euro 2025 - Group C - Sweden v Germany - Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland - July 12, 2025 Swedens Stina Blackstenius celebrates scoring their first goal as Germanys Sarai Linder, Ann-Katrin Berger and Rebecca Knaak look on REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

ZURICH - Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was none too pleased with her sides 4-1 humbling by Sweden on Saturday, but said the one consolation was that they were still in the tournament, finishing second in the group and advancing to the quarter-finals despite the heavy defeat.

The Germans, who had defender Carlotta Wamser sent off in the 32nd minute for a handball that resulted in a penalty, still progressed to the last eight, where they will face the winners of Group D (either France, England or Netherlands).

Id rather take a blow now than in the quarter-finals, because then you cant make a comeback anymore, Berger told reporters.

Sometimes in football... its good to lose, to really know how it is to lose, a real pain, and that sometimes its just not enough to perform like that.

The Germans started brightly and took the lead in the seventh minute but the Swedes hit back five minutes later and proceeded to cause problems for their opponents by creating overloads in wide areas and becoming more direct in