Berger speaks on new starting role: "All the hard times behind me have been worth it."
Germany's hitherto loyal and quiet #2 also reflected on what it felt like to be handed such an important responsibility in just her 11th cap for country.
Two registered assists in the final pre-Olympic fixture of the German women's national team left most followers of the DFB Frauen fairly certain that 33-year-old keeper Ann-Katrin Berger would displace normal #1 Merle Frohms at the Paris games. Berger herself nevertheless admitted that she was most surprised when she saw her name pencilled into the lineup ahead of yesterday's victory over Australia.
The Göppingen-native's career has been one of great personal and professional adversity. Berger left her native country in 2014. She only made her DFB debut in 2020 at the age of 30. Twice - in 2017 and 2021 - thyroid cancer threatened to derail her career. As quoted by German journalist Gunnar Meggers of Kicker Magazine, Berger expressed relief and vindication when speaking to reporters after the 3-0 win.
"All the hard times behind me have been worth it," Berger is quoted as saying, "It simply means everything for me to be at the Olympics and play."
After Frohms made multiple errors in her last start, Hrubesch dropped strong hints that he Berger would be given preference at the tournament. The Gotham FC net-minder emphasized that she wasn't prepared to buy into the talk; at least not until the Bundestrainer officially informed her of his choice on the morning of the opening fixture.
"I honestly thought he was messing with me," Frohms said, "I didn't believe it until this morning. On the pitch, I had to pinch myself."