Women's EURO quarter-finals: France vs Germany facts

France and Germany meet in the UEFA Women's EURO knockout stages once again at St. Jakob-Park in Basel in the fourth quarter-final of the 2025 edition.

France achieved maximum points in Group D, their Matchday 3 win against Netherlands (5-2) following defeats of England (2-1) and Wales (4-1). Germany sealed their progress thanks to victories against Poland (2-0) and Denmark (2-1), though a 1-4 Matchday 3 defeat by Sweden left them second behind the Scandinavian side in Group C.

France have reached the quarter-finals for the fifth straight Women's EURO tournament; eight-time winners Germany have now progressed from their group in all eight editions since the format was introduced in 1997.

Previous meetings

An Alexandra Popp double helped Germany beat France 2-1 in Milton Keynes in the semi-finals of the 2022 competition – their third meeting at Women's EURO – an own goal from goalkeeper Merle Frohms having levelled at 1-1.

The previous two matches were also won by Germany, in the group stage in 2005 (3-0) and 2009 (5-1). They went on to lift the title on both occasions.

Germany came out on top in two FIFA Women's World Cup encounters between the nations, 4-2 in the group stage when they hosted in 2011 and 5-4 on penalties four years later in Montreal after their quarter-final had ended 1-1 following extra time.

Lea Schüller scored the only goal of the game as Germany defeated France 1-0 in a friendly in Laval on 28 February 2019.

France won their most recent encounter however, prevailing 2-1 in the 2023/24 UEFA Women’s Nations League semi-final in Décines to turn round their defeat by the same scoreline in the Women's EURO 2022 last four. First-half strikes from Kadidiatou Diani and Sakina Karchaoui – her first international goal – proved enough despite Giulia Gwinn's late penalty halving the deficit.

Form guide

France

Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore found the net in the first half of France's Matchday 1 victory against holders England in Zurich, while Clara Mateo, Diani, Amel Majri and Grace Geyoro struck against Wales in St.Gallen. France then put five past Netherlands in Basel on Matchday 3, Delphine Cascarino scoring twice wiith Sandie Toletti, Katoto and Karchaoui also on target.

France's 11 goals in Group D – a national record at a Women's EURO – were scored by nine different players.

Geyoro is now France's joint-highest scorer at Women's EURO finals with four goals – a record she shares with Angélique Roujas and Marinette Pichon.

A 1-0 win against Netherlands in Rotherham at Women’s EURO 2022 was France’s first quarter-final victory at their fourth attempt, having lost in the last eight against the same opponents in 2009 (0-0, 4-5 pens), Denmark in 2013 (1-1, 2-4 pens) and England in 2017 (0-1).

France topped Group A3 in qualifying, winning four of their six games to finish ahead of England, Sweden and Republic of Ireland.

Katoto scored three of Les Bleues' eight qualifying goals, including winners against all three of their group opponents.

This is France's eighth consecutive finals appearance since their first entry in 1997.

A side coached by Corinne Diacre reached the semi-finals in 2022 – France's best Women's EURO run to date. Their run was ended by Germany in that contest at Stadium MK.

The following year, under new head coach Hervé Renard, they reached their third consecutive Women's World Cup quarter-final, losing 7-6 on penalties to co-hosts Australia in Brisbane after a 0-0 draw.

France reached another quarter-final in 2024, this time at their home Olympic Games, which followed a run to the final of the inaugural Women's Nations League, where they lost 0-2 to world champions Spain.

Following the 2024 Olympics Renard was succeeded by assistant Laurent Bonadei.

Germany

Second-half goals from Sjoeke Nüsken (56pen) and Lea Schüller (66) completed a turnaround for Germany on Matchday 2 in Basel, after Denmark had taken the lead in the first half. It was the first time Germany had come from behind to win a Women's EURO match since the 2009 semi-finals against Norway.

Schüller had also been on target – again in the 66th minute – in the 2-0 victory over Poland on Matchday 1, Jule Brand having broken the deadlock in St.Gallen.

Brand scored again on Matchday 3, but opponents Sweden came back to win 4-1 in Zurich. It was the first time Germany – who were reduced to ten players in the first half when Carlotta Wamser was dismissed – had conceded four goals in a Women's EURO match.

Germany have won three of their four previous Women's EURO quarter-finals, the only blemish a 1-2 loss to runners-up Denmark in 2017. They were 2-0 victors against Austria in the 2022 last eight.

Germany reached a 12th finals – and a 12th in succession since their 1989 debut – by winning five of their six Group A4 fixtures (L1) in a section alongside Iceland, Austria and Matchday 1 opponents Poland.

Schüller was Germany's top scorer in qualifying with six goals.

The most decorated team in Women's EURO history, Germany were victorious on their first two entries, in 1989 and 1991, and then won six tournaments in a row starting with a 3-2 win on home turf against Sweden in 1995. They have beaten Norway in the final in four of their eight triumphs, including a 1-0 win in their most recent in 2013.

Since that 2013 success in Sweden, Germany lost 1-2 after extra time against England in the 2022 final, in addition to that 2017 defeat by Denmark in the last eight.

Former players Inka Grings and Birgit Prinz are the joint-top scorers in Women's EURO final tournament history on ten goals.

Two-time FIFA Women's World Cup winners – triumphing in successive tournaments in 2003 and 2007 – Germany were eliminated from the group stage in 2023, the first time they had not reached the knockout stages.

Germany finished third in both the 2023/24 UEFA Women's Nations League and the 2024 Olympic Games.

Christian Wück has been in charge since October 2024.

Key facts

• France are aiming to win four successive Women's EURO finals matches for the first time.

• France have won their last 11 international games – all in 2025.

• Germany have scored a record 107 goals in Women's EURO final tournaments. They are the only team to have reached a century.

• This is Germany's 50th game at Women's EURO – they are the first team to reach the landmark.

• Germany are aiming to reach a record extending 11th semi-final.