2024-10-01 01:18:30
Alexandra Popp ends her career in the national team. 67 goals in 144 international matches: With her, women’s football has lost far more than a feared goalscorer.
It’s been two years since women’s football experienced a new boom in Germany. At the European Championships in England, the DFB selection made it to the final. Almost 18 million Germans watched on television as the team fought its way into extra time, which was narrowly lost. As a result of this successful European Championship, an average of three times as many fans came to games in the women’s football Bundesliga as before. Records were broken and milestones were also reached in TV broadcasts.
It was also thanks to Alexandra Popp that Germany’s women made it to the final in 2022. With six goals, she was the tournament’s top scorer. Unfortunately, she missed the final itself, a bit like Michael Ballack did with the men in 2002. This did not harm her reputation. Popp was more than the feared goalscorer and captain. She was the face, the mouthpiece of the team. Anyone who thought of the German national team couldn’t ignore Popp. Things will be different in the future.
Video | Alexandra Popp shares emotional resignation statement
After 144 international matches and 67 goals, she ended her DFB career. The 145th international match – a friendly against Australia on October 28 – will be their last. As for Merle Frohms and Marina Hegering, the Olympic Games in Paris were Popp’s last appearance with the eagle on his chest. With her goes the personified danger, the terror of every defense.
If Popp appeared in the opponent’s penalty area wearing a DFB jersey, there was an alarm. Because with her, almost every cross was a good chance to score. Her header strength made her a weapon in the air. Her irrepressible desire to win every game was infectious. Their fight against the premature exit from the World Cup in Australia in the final group game against South Korea will never be forgotten.
The energy that Popp radiated on that emotional evening in Brisbane is now missing. “The fire (…) is now almost burned out,” she explained. “Neither my body, which is a ticking time bomb, nor any other person should beat me to it. Before the fire goes out completely – because then it would be too late – now is the right time.”
From now on, Germany has to do without Popp. After Almuth Schult, Svenja Huth, Melanie Leupolz as well as Hegering and Frohms, the 33-year-old is another long-standing key figure in the national team. Not only is the coach different after Horst Hrubesch’s departure from the international matches at the end of October, the team also has a completely different face. But one that had a good role model in Alexandra Popp.