football
“Fire almost burned out”: Popp resigns from the DFB team
Alexandra Popp says goodbye to the national team
© Marcus Brandt / DPA
In German women’s football, Alexandra Popp is considered a role model like no other. The national team will have to do without them in the future. Your farewell game is where it all began.
After “long, tearful deliberations,” DFB captain Alexandra Popp announced her resignation from the national team. The 33-year-old star soccer player from VfL Wolfsburg ends her international career with her 145th international match on October 28th against Australia in Duisburg and can hope for a lavish farewell party. She made her DFB debut for FCR Duisburg in 2010.
“I have always emphasized that my gut will make the decision, and now it has decided,” Popp said in a DFB statement after the “Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung” and NDR had previously reported on it. “The fire (…) is now almost burned out.”
Alexandra Popp’s Wolfsburg contract runs until 2025
It was always important to her to make this drastic decision herself, purely from within herself. “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.”
Popp will not only be missed by the national team on the pitch: she is considered an identification figure for her sport far beyond the pitch. She has repeatedly fought for better conditions in women’s football and denounced deficits. Your contract in Wolfsburg runs until June 30, 2025.
Popp, who was born in Witten, celebrated her greatest triumph with the 2016 Olympic victory. At the games this summer she was the only remaining German player from Rio and, with the selection of interim coach Horst Hrubesch, she won bronze with a 1-0 win in the game for place three against the world champions from Spain.
For the new national coach Christian Wück, the upheaval begins with his debut as women’s manager on October 25th at Wembley against European champions England. At the 2025 European Championships in Switzerland, Wück will have to make do without the 67-time goalscorer and three-time “Footballer of the Year”. Defense chief Marina Hegering and long-time regular goalkeeper Merle Frohms had previously resigned from the DFB selection and Svenja Huth (all Wolfsburg) followed.
“Alex Popp was the defining face of the women’s national team for almost a decade and a half. She was a key player, led the way on and off the pitch – with her attitude, mentality, personality and of course her footballing qualities,” said Wück. “Now others will fill this gap and take on leadership roles.”
Giulia Gwinn could become the new DFB captain
Popp’s successor as captain could be Giulia Gwinn: The 25-year-old from FC Bayern already represented Wolfsburg under interim coach Hrubesch. Munich’s Lena Oberdorf, who is still missing due to a cruciate ligament injury, and Lea Schüller are also considered players who should lead the way in the next few years.
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It became apparent after the Olympics that Popp would not continue her international career. The attacker recently struggled repeatedly with injuries to her “problem knee,” as she put it, and her heel. She had already expressed thoughts of resigning after the 2022 European Championships in England and the botched 2023 World Cup in Australia.
Popp had also indicated several times that the many trips with the club and national team were putting a strain on her and once described herself as a “home shitter”.
With second place at the European Championships two years ago, the state-certified animal keeper became a star, even though she was injured in the final against the host team (1:2). She was the first woman ever to be named “Personality of the Year” by the trade magazine “Kicker”.
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf described Popp as “an outstanding ambassador for the DFB”, which she was “thanks to her open and honest nature as well as her clear attitude. She stood and stands for everything that characterizes women’s football: quality, joy of playing and approachability.” For Vice President Sabine Mammitzsch, the development of women’s football has reached a new dimension since the 2022 European Championship – “also and above all thanks to Alexandra Popp”.