Star striker overcomes injury setbacks to lead country\u2019s charge at women\u2019s championship
\n MANCHESTER
\nAlexandra Popp seem destined never to play at a European Championship due to injury, but the veteran striker is now leading Germany\u2019s charge back to the top of the women\u2019s game at Euro 2022.
\nAn Olympic gold medallist and Champions League winner at club level with Wolfsburg, the Euro had been the bete noire of the 31-year-old\u2019s glittering career until touching down in England a few weeks ago. Her determination to play in Wolfsburg\u2019s Champions League final win over Lyon despite ankle ligament damage ruined her chances of playing at Euro 2013.
\nFour years later it was a knee issue that cost Popp a place in the squad for Euro 2017.
\nFurther injury woe looked set to derail what will realistically be her last chance to be crowned a European champion at international level.
\nPopp has had two more knee operations on her meniscus over the past 15 months, only making a comeback in March.
\nAnd even when she proved her fitness in time to be selected by Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, Popp\u2019s pre-tournament preparations were disrupted by a positive test for coronavirus.
\nA trained zookeeper, Popp has reacted like a caged animal since being released upon the tournament as a substitute in Germany\u2019s opening game against Denmark.
\nIn her 115th appearance for Germany, she took just 25 minutes to score on her first match at the Euro with a diving header to cap a 4-0 win over the Danes.
\nIn an emotional celebration the striker sank to her knees and appeared on the verge of tears in what she later described as the most emotional moment of her career.
\nAnother Covid-19 case in the German camp to Lea Schueller then opened the door for Popp to start against Spain, which she marked with another headed finish.
\nFurther goals against Finland and Austria in the quarter-finals have made Popp the first player to score in four consecutive games at the same women\u2019s Euro.
\nHer desire to make a mark was made clear by the sprint to charge down a clearance by Austrian goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger in the final minute of the 90 that rebounded into the net.
\n\u201cThere are few players in the world who have similar qualities,\u201d said former Germany women\u2019s coach Horst Hrubesch this week.
\nPopp\u2019s presence has been vital not just on the field for a fresh-faced German team trying to restore their grip on the European game.
\nDie Nationalelf have dominated the Euro over the years, winning the title eight times.
\nHowever, progress to the last four in England is their first semi-final at a major tournament since the 2015 World Cup.
\nAs one of the older stateswomen in the squad, Popp was part of a delegation to negotiate bonuses from the German football association that could rise to 60,000 euros ($61,000) per player for winning Euro 2022.
\nThat payout is just two games away as Germany have swept all before them so far in winning all four games without even conceding a goal.
\nGermany\u2019s toughest test yet awaits against France in Wednesday\u2019 semi-final, but Popp has plans in mind for the final in front of a sold-out Wembley on Sunday.
\n\u201cHow about raising the trophy in the air?\u201d Popp said. \u201cThat sounds like a good plan.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Star striker overcomes injury setbacks to lead country\u2019s charge at women\u2019s championship MANCHESTER Alexandra Popp seem destined never to play at a European Championship due to injury, but the veteran striker is now leading Germany\u2019s charge back to the top of the women\u2019s game at Euro 2022. An Olympic gold medallist and Champions League winner […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":273869,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-273857","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n