Speculation Arises Over Athlete's Possible Departure from National Squad
Berger's Future with the German National Team Uncertain Ahead of the 2027 World Cup
Ann-Katrin Berger, Germany's star goalkeeper, has yet to reveal her plans for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. Despite her impressive performance at the European Championship in Switzerland, there are no specific details about her future with the German national team beyond the tournament.
Berger, aged 34 during Euro 2025, demonstrated resilience and composure, overcoming criticism and health challenges to perform strongly. Her commitment and motivation are evident, as she expressed joy and fulfillment in being the No. 1 goalkeeper at a Women's EURO.
In her recent comments, Berger acknowledged the competitive nature of the goalkeeper position in the German team and hinted at a possible change. She also mentioned the presence of "incredibly good goalkeepers" behind her, but did not specify who she was referring to.
Berger is currently back in league life with her American club Gotham FC. She has not discussed her future role in the 2027 World Cup in Brazil in the provided context, but she did imply a potential competition for the goalkeeper position. Berger also mentioned that long trips from the USA to Germany are a factor to consider for the World Cup in Brazil.
The next tournament's focus is now in the hands of Bundestrainer Christian Wück, according to Berger. She did not specify any new details about her own plans for the 2027 World Cup, stating that it would take "a few weeks" to decide about her future.
Berger's comments suggest that she is open to competition for the goalkeeper position in the 2027 World Cup. She is self-critical about her role as a goalkeeper, acknowledging that playing at a high level requires a lot of energy. Yet, she also mentioned that goalkeepers may age like "fine wine", but she still needs to be self-critical in her role.
Without explicit confirmation, Berger's longer-term national team plans remain unreported publicly at this time. Given her dedication and importance to the team’s defense, it is reasonable to infer that if physically able and selected, she is likely to continue contributing to the German national team.
Despite Ann-Katrin Berger's impressive performance in the European Championship and her stated motivation, the specifics of her involvement in the German national team beyond the tournament, including the 2027 World Cup, remain uncertain. In the realm of European leagues, Berger's performance with Gotham FC has been under scrutiny, with her potential role and preparations for the 2027 World Cup yet to be defined.
