The captain Alexandra Popp caused a lot of laughter at a press conference of the German team on Friday as "Alexander Popp" in Watford. The 31-year-old from VfL Wolfsburg appeared two days before the European Championship final against England at Wembley with a mustache glued on.
"We just kind of joked around at breakfast this morning and then said we'd just do it," explained the goalscorer and added with a grin: "I think the mood here in the team fits." Popp had the facial jewellery made out of strips of black kinesio tape. She also wore a black cap.
The background to the action is likely to have been a contribution from the satirical website “Der Postillon” on Thursday. Under the heading "Hope for the German attack? Flick nominates newcomer Alexander Papp for national team” was a photo montage. Popp with a mustache sits next to the men's national coach Hansi Flick.
On Sunday (6:00 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker) the DFB women will play against the host team in London for their ninth European Championship title. Popp is the top scorer along with her English rival Beth Mead (both six goals).
Ukrainian referee Kateryna Monzul will referee the game. This was announced by the European football union Uefa on Friday, sending a political signal: Monzul fled to Italy a few weeks after the outbreak of war in her home country. The 41-year-old was the first woman to officiate games in the top men's league in Ukraine.
Popp sees the pressure in the final "much more on the English side", as she said. Before the final in London, she also recalled the experiences of the DFB women at the home World Cup eleven years ago. "We know that from 2011: suddenly everyone expects something from you," said Popp. She had four joker appearances at the tournament and witnessed how the German selection failed in the quarter-finals due to eventual world champion Japan and the high expectations.
"We have nothing left to lose. With that attitude, we can go into the game completely free,” Popp said of the constellation at Wembley. In addition, hardly anyone expected that their team would make it to the final.
The DFB women beat France 2-1. The outstanding German player is the captain Alexandra Popp. For the former national player Jimmy Hartwig it is basically clear: "Women's football is awesome." Hartwig is already certain how the final against England will end.
Source: WORLD
