The captain Alexandra Popp caused a lot of laughter at a press conference of the German team on Friday as “Alexander Papp” 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, adding with a grin: “I think the mood here in the team fits.” Popp made the facial jewelry 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. A photo montage was set under the heading “Hope for the German attack? Flick nominates newcomer Alexander Papp for national team”. Popp with a mustache sits on this next to the men’s national coach Hansi Flick.
The DFB women play against the host team in London on Sunday for their ninth European title. Popp is the top scorer along with her English rival Beth Mead (both six goals).
When Alexandra Popp and the German women’s soccer team play hosts England for the European Championship title on Sunday, numerous Bundesliga coaches, officials and national players will have their fingers crossed. Sebastian Kehl is also one of the supporters: “I would really like the girls to win a title again. The last one was a few years ago. That would be really nice for football in Germany,” said Borussia’s sports director Dortmund before the grand finale (6 p.m./ARD and DAZN) on the Sky TV channel.
Even before kick-off, many are raving about the atmosphere that will prevail at Wembley Stadium. The DFB team now have “an amazing experience ahead of 90,000 fans in Wembley,” said Hoffenheim coach André Breitenreiter: “It’s a very special game and will release a lot of emotions.”
