She is the face of the national soccer team at the European Championships in England: Alexandra Popp. Back in the Bundesliga, the popularity doesn't stop. The many requests are new to her, but not everyone can accept them. Even with the participation in the World Cup, she is not determined.
Alexandra Popp rushed from the works meeting at VW to her press conference at VfL Wolfsburg. "I signed a non-disclosure agreement, so I'm not allowed to say anything about it," said the vice-European champion and DFB captain, laughing at the second event about the first, before answering a lot of questions. The 31-year-old has been in more demand than ever since the euphoric European Football Championship in England: "I'm on the road quite a bit at the moment, so my dog is just a bit neglected."
The mistress of Vierbeiner Patch also has a full program in the coming weeks: the next Bundesliga game of the German champions from Wolfsburg against Bayer Leverkusen is on Friday evening (7.15 p.m. / Eurosport and in the ntv.de live ticker), next Monday there will be Group stage draw a taste of the Champions League. And on Friday (8.30 p.m. / ARD) the international match in Dresden will take place against France.
Popp spent her vacation after the European Championships in a quiet place in a camper van. But it has long since caught up with its enormously increased popularity. Even in big cities like Hamburg, where she used to walk the streets "as a normal citizen", she is now recognized. "That has changed enormously and it's funny at first, because you'd like to be on the road privately. On the other hand, it's an extreme recognition and appreciation."
You have also received a relatively large number of requests for media or sponsorship appearances. "Partly very cool, very interesting, but not feasible due to time constraints." So she could hardly take part in the RTL high diving, she would have to train, "how to jump from a five-meter board or do such a funny Auerbach. And there the risk of injury is too great if I face in the water brake."
Popp, who only made her comeback at the beginning of the year after a knee injury, is currently having "extremely much fun" in soccer. However, she does not want to commit to participating in the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. "As of now, that's on my agenda," she said. "But I said that it can also be different. I'm extremely guided by the feelings in my stomach. And that's why it can happen that in six months I say: This is the moment when I stop. Or not. "
Popp was instrumental in helping the German women reach the final at Wembley, scoring six goals at the European Championships in July. There, coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg lost 2-1 to England - without her injured top striker.
"Of course it would have been very charming if you ended your international career with the European Championship title at your first European Championship. That hasn't happened now," said Popp, who scored 59 goals in 121 international matches and was Olympic champion with the German team in 2016 . "I even had the feeling that the tournament and my physical fitness made me feel like I was in second spring at the moment." She also doesn't want to let the young players off the leash completely, but wants to continue to lead them a little.
