Captain Alexandra Popp’s dream trip to the European Football Championship ended with an injury on a seat in the lower stand – instead of on the Wembley lawn.
The German top scorer was no longer allowed to hold up the trophy when the exciting final spectacle in front of 87,192 spectators was decided in favor of England. The 31-year-old had led her team to the final with six goals. When the title was awarded and the 1:2 (1:1, 0:0) after extra time, she was only allowed to watch.
Just eight minutes before kick-off, the DFB had announced that Popp had to pass due to muscular problems and that Lea Schüller was in the starting XI. The woman from Wolfsburg followed the events with a sad face. It was already clear then: The award as England’s top scorer belongs to Beth Mead, who, like Popp, has six tournament goals but more assists. Where Popp had hired this title far behind a possible EM triumph.
Popp as the face of the team
Popp was the face of her team at the latest after her two semi-final goals against France – and it became definitive when she appeared at the press conference two days before the dream final with a moustache. The photo went viral.
Until then, every game was a success story for “Poppi” or “Alex”, as she is usually called: Joker and a late goal in the first game against Denmark, then replacement for Lea Schüller (corona quarantine) and five more goals until bitter finale. In the final, Bundesliga top scorer Schüller from FC Bayern, who was also Germany’s footballer of the year on Sunday, took Popp’s place – she was exhausted in her 67 minutes of play, but did not score.