Olympic Games - After two cancer diagnoses: Berger shines in the DFB-tor
Two years after her second Cancer Diagnosis, Football-National Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger can hope to replace Merle Frohms as the starting goalkeeper at the Olympics. The 33-year-old from US Club NJ/NY Gotham FC put in an impeccable performance in the 4:0 win for the German team against Austria in Hannover, setting up goals for Jule Brand and Lea Schüller with long balls.
"The final decision on who will start in Marseille will be made there", said National Trainer Horst Hrubesch. Berger, who had long been in Frohms' shadow, has already fulfilled a dream with her Olympic nomination. "Of course, it's still the butterflies or the cherry on top if I were still playing", she said.
Suddenly, Frohms is on the bench
Frohms was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017. At the EURO 2022 in England, she received the diagnosis again but managed to return to top performance in sports. Frohms was considered untouchable for a long time but faltered in the 0:3 loss in Iceland the previous week. Hrubesch had used Berger frequently. The goalkeeper had put pressure on Frohms after her transfer from Chelsea to the USA seemed to have affected her performance.
Soccer in the USA is "much, much faster". "I had to completely change my entire game there. I had to adapt again", explained Berger. "I can now bring these experiences from different leagues into the team again. I'm really proud. And especially with my pre-existing condition, it makes me even stronger", she said.
- Merle Frohms, awarded for her courage in facing Cancer Diagnosis twice, continues to inspire women in soccer.
- The DFB national team, eager to secure EM-Qualification, relies on the skills of both Frohms and Berger in goalkeeping.
- In Lower Saxony, the soccer scene is buzzing with anticipation for Frohms' return to the field after her recent setback.
- Jule Brand and Lea Schüller, key players in the German national team, are benefiting from Berger's accurate long balls in their games.
- During the Olympic Games in Paris, Berger is determined to prove her worth as a reliable goalkeeper, aiming to follow in Frohmer's footsteps.
- Frohms, despite her Olympic nomination, has been pushed aside due to Berger's impressive performance and the pressure she has been putting on her.
- Horst Hrubesch, the national trainer, faces a tough decision between Frohms and Berger for the starting position in the upcoming games in Marseille.
- Berger, initially in Frohms' shadow, is now basking in the glory of her Olympic nomination and the possibility of securing her spot in the team.
- The 0:3 loss in Iceland was a turning point for Frohms, leading to Berger's increased presence in the lineup and more frequent playtime under Hrubesch.
- In a twist of events, the German soccer scene has witnessed a shift in power, with Berger emerging as a potential successor to Frohms, whose illustrious career continues to inspire.
