Germany’s Popp to retire from international football

Germany captain Alexandra Popp has announced she will retire from international football next month.

The 33-year-old Wolfsburg striker made her Germany debut in 2010 and has scored 67 goals for her country in 144 appearances.

The German Football Association said she will win her 145th and final cap against Australia in Duisburg on 28 October – three days after they play England at Wembley.

“I have always stressed that my gut will make the decision, and now it has,” Popp said on Monday.

“After long, tearful deliberations, I have decided with a heavy heart to end my career with the national team.

“The fire that ignited in me 18 years ago and grew stronger from year to year has now almost burned out.”

Popp, who won Olympic gold with Germany in 2016, played in four Women’s World Cups, captaining the side in France in 2019 and again in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.

She also led Germany to the final of the European Championship in 2022, when they lost in extra time against Sarina Wiegman’s England.

“It was always important to me to make this decisive decision myself, from within myself. Neither my body, which is a ticking time bomb, nor another person should get ahead of me,” Popp added.

“Before the fire is completely extinguished – because then it would be too late – the right time has now come.”

Germany head coach Christian Wuck said Popp had been the “defining face of the women’s national team for almost a decade and a half”.

“She is leaving big footprints in the national team. She deserves the greatest respect for that,” Wuck added.

Popp is under contract with Wolfsburg, who she has played for since 2012, until June next year.