After the emotional final chord of her impressive career in the national team, Alexandra Popp led the thank you round of the German footballers and was the first player to do the La Ola wave with the fans. In the 1:2 (1:1) friendly match against Australia, the long-time captain of the German team had a fitting farewell – but no victory.
Her appearance in front of 26,623 spectators in Duisburg was also short; national coach Christian Wück took the 33-year-old striker off the pitch after just 15 minutes. She was not granted one last goal – it would have been her 68th.
The fans in the Duisburg stadium stood up when their previously agreed substitution was made, gave a loud round of applause and ensured that Popp had a few tears in his eyes. She put the captain’s armband on right-back Giulia Gwinn, who was the first to hug her. Her now ex-colleagues stood by during the substitution, Popp warmed one after the other.
After 145 international matches, an era ended in Duisburg, where the Witten native also celebrated her DFB debut in 2010. Only Heidi Mohr (83 goals), who died in 2019, and Birgit Prinz (128) scored more often in the DFB jersey.
Cerci takes the early lead
Football was also played, Selina Cerci (5th minute) gave the DFB team an early lead, but Australia’s Kyra Cooney-Cross (39th), worth seeing from around 40 meters, and Clare Hunt (77th) turned the game around. Stina Johannes, who was new in goal compared to the 4:3 spectacle in England and who often held strong in her second international match, missed the goal in the 1:2.
In addition to the Frankfurt goalkeeper, who started instead of Ann-Katrin Berger, who failed at Wembley, and Popp, Wück made four other changes. Cerci, Felicitas Rauch, Vivien Endemann and debutant Lisanne Gräwe rotated into the team, Linda Dallmann, Elisa Senß, Jule Brand, Sara Doorsoun and Giovanna Hoffmann out.
The fresh staff only confirmed the lively impression at Wembley in the early stages, when the DFB team had already led 3-0 after 29 minutes. Endemann crossed to Cerci, who headed in to make it 1-0. Shortly afterwards, Rauch put the ball on the post, but Klara Bühl was denied by goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.
The DFB team was rarely able to keep up with London’s sometimes crazy pace advances because Australia usually defended deep. Popp’s goal plan also failed, a free kick from the eternal leader got stuck in Australia’s wall.
On the other hand, it always became dangerous when the guests switched quickly. With two brilliant saves, Johannes saved her team from equalizing, which then fell after a Cerci bad pass in midfield. Cooney-Cross switched quickly, saw that Johannes was well in front of their goal and hit the ball perfectly. The spectators, including former national coach Horst Hrubesch, were amazed.
Lots of changes after the break
Wück reacted at the break, Lina Magull and Sophia Kleinherne came, and later Dallmann, Brand and Pia-Sophie Wolter. What didn’t come were more ideas against Australia’s defensive bars. Wück’s players pushed the ball back and forth, but they hardly found any gaps.
Wück crossed his arms. He didn’t like what he saw. Especially since Johannes missed the ball from Steph Catley’s corner, Hunt nodded in to give the visitors the lead. Wolter and Dallmann basically missed the 2-2 in return, and Popp’s face darkened on the bench. Her last DFB game ended in a defeat – in which she, of course, played little role.
