Football
Kathleen McNamee 2y

Germany's Alexandra Popp out of Euro final starting lineup before kick-off

Germany captain Alexandra Popp was pulled from her country's starting lineup for the Women's European Championship final Sunday after suffering "a muscular problem" in the warm-up, the German Football Association confirmed on Sunday.

Popp, 31, had been named in the starting lineup in an unchanged side from Martina Voss-Tecklenburg but will now be replaced by Lea Schuller.

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Popp was tied with England's Beth Mead for the tournament's top scorer award before kick-off after scoring six goals in five games.

She became the first player in Euro history to score in five consecutive games, and her double against France in the semifinal ensured Germany progressed to the final at Wembley.

"[Popp] has suffered muscular problems in the warm-up. Lea Schüller replaces her in the starting XI," the statement said.

The DFB did not confirm whether Popp would not feature at all throughout the game.

After the match, Voss-Tecklenburg said: "We tried everything. Yesterday, we were surprised at the end of the final training that there were some problems. We didn't expect that after training. This morning it looked better, but it was clear that the decision, she had to agree.

"I trusted her today and when she said she felt something in the warmup, she couldn't shoot, then high respect to her after such a tournament, after such a special story, to not play a final."

This is Popp's first Euro tournament after missing the previous two due to serious injuries. She only recovered in March from a third serious injury which kept her out for 11 months.

England also named an unchanged starting XI, making them the first team in either the men's or women's Euros to not change their team throughout the entire tournament.

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