DFB women
“Poppi” here, Ms. Popp there: DFB captain in demand like never before
She has been the figurehead of German women’s football since the EM: Alexandra Popp. photo
© Daniel Karmann/dpa
Alexandra Popp has become the face of women’s football. The EM goalscorer copes with her role with commitment – and the necessary looseness. Of course, she can also counterattack off the pitch.
Alexandra had this one question Popp obviously haven’t been asked yet.
“Yes, I’m married. You’re the first to ask,” said the captain of the German national team in a media round before the World Cup – and cheekily pushed afterwards: “Everyone else just writes it.” Incidentally, husband Patrick also plays football – “but not at a high level. It doesn’t matter where he plays.”
Interested in women’s football – and in Popp
The 32-year-old from VfL Wolfsburg has been a sought-after conversation partner since her furious European Championships in England – and sometimes she no longer knows how to do justice to all the inquiries. Apart from the sporting expectations. “Something has changed extremely in her life since last summer. Of course, there has been a lot of brutal appointments that have come up,” said Popp. From an organizational point of view, it is not always easy with all the games and training sessions.
“Of course, refusals have to be handed out, too, of course. Maybe even with inquiries where you’re really up for it.” For example, she would have liked to take part in “RTL high diving”. “I would have felt like making a fool of myself a bit,” said the star striker. But you can’t get out of training for two or three days.
Popp has long since become a face of her sport, an ambassador and a mouthpiece. For example, she has sat on the sofa with Thomas Gottschalk’s “Wetten dass…?” because TV programs with a high rating are important to her for the visibility of women’s football – “that may be watched by people who are not really interested in our sport deal”.
figurehead of the sport
On August 1st – right in the middle of the World Cup – a biography about the former Duisburg player will be published with the title: “Then I’ll show you on the pitch.” As a captain, Popp doesn’t just lead the way on the pitch. She discusses and regulates important things with the team council of the DFB selection. In addition to Popp, this also includes Marina Hegering, Sara Däbritz, Lina Magull and Lena Oberdorf as well as goalkeeper Almuth Schult, who is currently expecting her third child and is no longer in the squad. “If we have clear results on any topic, then we present it to the team” – be it in the debate about World Cup bonuses or the rainbow tie.
“Poppi” here, Alex there, Mrs. Popp there – the star striker, Olympic champion from 2016, 128-time national player, “Personality of the Year” (“Kicker” magazine) and Bundesliga top scorer is in demand like never before. How do your teammates deal with it? “We don’t even talk about that. There’s no envy, it’s clear to everyone that the focus is often more on female strikers,” explained national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. “We’re just excited about the whole development that we’re making and being role models for a lot of girls and boys who are finding their way into football.”
World Cup in the starting blocks
For Popp and Co. the World Cup starts on July 24th in Melbourne against Morocco. In contrast to last year’s European Championship, when the woman from Wolfsburg had to fight for a long time after a serious knee injury and then missed the final against England (1-2) injured after six goals, this time she travels to the tournament with a lot of match practice. After 2011, 2015 and 2019 it is her fourth World Cup. The title is the goal, as she already said. But she also puts it pragmatically: “First play good football.”
By the way, Popp’s husband Patrick does not fly to Australia. Neither does her beloved dog “Patch”, an Australian Shepherd. “How am I supposed to do that? Should he swim?” Popp replied dryly to a corresponding question.