Captain Alexandra Popp was in a good mood and chatting on the day before the opening of the World Cup.
After some adjustment difficulties, the German footballers around their experienced leader finally feel that they have arrived “down under” and are ready for their mission at the finals in Australia and New Zealand. “I’m in the mood for the World Cup,” announced Popp with a broad grin on Wednesday in the German World Cup base in Wyong.
“We were extremely tired in the first few days and the jetlag took its toll,” said the goalscorer from cup winners and runners-up VfL Wolfsburg. This phase is now over. “The mood on the training ground is great, concentration is great and the quality of the practice sessions is very good,” said the 32-year-old.
anticipation dominates
Everyone is “extremely happy that it’s finally starting and we can sit together as a team to watch the other games and develop a World Cup feeling before we start for ourselves,” said Popp.
The first task in the preliminary round is against Morocco next Monday. Then the most experienced German player with 128 caps will lead the DFB selection onto the field with a special captain’s armband, which she will wear throughout the tournament. With this one wants to set an example “against violence against women”, said Popp.
World governing body FIFA announced at the end of June that, unlike at the men’s World Cup, it would allow multicolored captain’s armbands in the style of the “One Love” armband. While there is no armband with classic rainbow colors, various bracelets with messages on social issues are permitted. Popp justified the choice of the team for the bandage against violence against women with the fact that this is a “huge issue”. “Especially when it comes to domestic violence.”
Round of 16 could be an endurance test
First and foremost, however, the team of national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg wants to make headlines in sport. After the Morocco start, the group duels with Colombia and South Korea follow. In the round of 16, a very big chunk threatens with France or Brazil. “It will definitely not be easy and definitely not a sure-fire success. It was said that we had caught the lightest group. I don’t see it that way,” said Popp. “We have to start the tournament very well to take a flow with us.”
