The German captain Alexandra Popp will have to put up with the joker role at the European Championships in England. This was indicated by Martina Voss-Tecklenburg after the women’s 4-0 opening win against Denmark in London.
“We tried to find a way to make her believe that we need her in her entire way in this tournament – if not in the first 90-minute game, maybe not in the second or third either,” said the national coach .
After a serious knee injury, Popp only made her comeback in the national team in April, and a corona disease set her back again in the preparation. As a substitute, she scored a 4-0 header against Denmark. The Olympic champion from VfL Wolfsburg played her first European Championship appearance in her 115th international match, as she was injured in the last two tournaments.
“I can only say that it’s just beautiful,” said Voss-Tecklenburg. “Poppi didn’t have an easy way.” The striker was “very busy, very upset” about the question of fitness. The 31-year-old herself said: “Of course I want to play from the start, that’s clear. That’s why I will continue to show what I always show in the training sessions. In the end, Martina decides.”
At the same time, Popp praised her competitor Lea Schüller from FC Bayern. “Lea did well before I was substituted on. It is therefore a great added value to have such two strikers in the ranks,” she explained, adding with a laugh: “And If in the end it goes like this that Lea plays all tired first, and then I come in and can execute – then I’m completely fine with that.”