Relentless Popp spearheads force of Germany but glimpses of hope for England

Two minutes before the hour, with France starting to suggest they had finally got Germany’s measure, their substitute Selma Bacha was sent sprinting clear down the inside left channel. Her decision to shoot early as the ball held up outside the penalty area seemed questionable but was quickly explained: she had seen Alexandra Popp, effectively the last German defender, making up ground in her rear view mirror and could do little as, from nowhere, the hurtling No 11 successfully threw herself towards the shot. Popp had prevented a potential goal and here was the kicker: 13 seconds previously, in an almost identical position at the other end of the pitch, it was her slightly loose pass that had let France break.

She had bust a gut to get back and save the day, just as she put everything on the line to power a thrilling winner past Pauline Peyraud-Magnin 14 minutes from time. For all the breathtaking moments England’s players have provided in their run to the final, there will be nobody quite like Popp on the Wembley pitch this Sunday.

When she planted another thrusting header to crown the group stage win over Denmark, months after recovering from a potentially career-ending cartilage tear, one of this summer’s good news stories was already guaranteed. Two other injuries had deprived her of European Championship action in 2013 and 2017. Always prolific, she had never quite been lucky; now she is making up for lost time and, with six goals in five games, has made history on her 119th cap.

Popp does not stop. She has torn into opponents with three tournaments’ worth of energy, creating both goals against Austria by closing down poor Manuela Zinsberger, and has built a head of steam that most 31-year-olds can no longer muster.