A new Popp star is about to be launched to an appreciative global market and she’s going to be a huge hit.
Like many overnight successes, Alexandra Popp, 32, is already highly regarded by fans in the know, but she will breakthrough to become a household name by the end of the Women’s World Cup, which kick offs in Australia and New Zealand this week.
A prolific scorer for Wolfsburg, leading them to last season’s Champions League final, Popp hit the net for Germany in every round of last summer’s European Championship except the final- which she missed after sustaining an injury.
There’s a fair argument to be made that if she’d played in the white-knuckle affair at Wembley, football would not have finally come home thanks to England’s 2-1 victory.
The Lionesses were also boosted by the brilliant backing of home fans as well as a clean bill of health, but this time around essential players Leah Williamson, Fran Kirby and Beth Mead are injured while Ellen White and Jill Scott retired after the elation at the Euros.
Sarina Wiegman’s team are still ones to watch and should reach the last four. But 19/4 to lift the trophy is the biggest price available with Ladbrokes and Coral and it’s a bit skinny given their deficiencies.
Leading the market to win the final in Sydney on Sunday, August 20 are the United States who are chasing an historic third consecutive Women’s World Cup success.
They are in a transitional phase however, and though former Tottenham forward Alex Morgan is still a force to be feared in attack they may lack depth.
It would be a fairytale ending for Megan Rapinoe if they lifted the trophy but the enigmatic 38-year-old seems set for disappointment.
Sweden’s European Championship chances were rocked by Covid and they are worth an each-way wager at 20/1 with several firms including Betway but the task looks too big for co-hosts Australia, while France will be a better bet at next year’s Olympics in Paris.
So yes, Germany are the team to follow at 8/1 with bet365 and William Hill and Popp is 14/1 with the same two firms and many others to top the tournament’s goalscoring charts.
• England are evens with Coral and Ladbrokes to reach the semi-finals.
• Portugal don’t concede many goals and frustrated the Lionesses in the recent 0-0 draw at Milton Keynes. They may have just enough about them to ease past Netherlands and qualify from Group E, which also contains the USA and Vietnam, at 11/2 with Unibet and BetUK.
MORE : Even without our injured stars the Lionesses have belief to win the world cup
MORE : Young girls need a ‘voice’ to help grow the women’s game, says England legend
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