If Germany head into the World Cup motivated by the pain of last summer’s Euros final defeat to England, no one will be as determined as their captain. Alexandra Popp carries the hopes of a nation who want to go one step further in Australia and New Zealand, with the striker’s own remarkable story missing the finishing touch that slipped away when injury robbed of the chance to face the Lionesses at Wembley, before Chloe Kelly’s goal in extra time took away the Euros as well.
But perhaps Germany and Popp can benefit from perspective. Even though they went on to reach the final, Germany were considered to be a developing side when they arrived in England last summer. Popp, the 32-year-old Wolfsburg striker, had been sidelined for the previous year with a knee injury. What followed was unexpected: Germany reached another major final, and Popp scored in all three group games, the quarter-finals and the semi-finals.
