Women's Euro 2022: Germany captain Popp misses the final due to injury

Suffering a muscular injury during the warm-up before the clash with hosts England in the final of the

, Germany captain

had to withdraw from the team for the final.  Popp was replaced by Lea Schuller in the starting line-up, while Svenja Huth took over as captain.

Popp, who was influential in

run to the final scored six goals as the battle for the Golden Boot with England’s Beth Mead lasted until the final day of the tournament. In addition, Popp was about to become just the second player to score in every match from the group stages to the final at a single edition of a European Championship since Michel Platini in 1984.

Germany coach Voss-Tecklenburg, who had already lost Klara Buhl due to COVID-19, was relying on Popp as the game changer.

:

"She's an absolute team player. Whoever saw the game against France saw someone who scored two goals, but my favorite scene was in the 85th minute where she ran back 60 meters to block a ball at the back.”

smashed Sweden 4-0 to reach the final of the Women's European Championship 2022 in a path that saw the Lionesses beat Spain, Norway, Austria, and Northern Ireland, scoring 20 goals in 5 matches. On the other side, a narrow 2-1 victory over France secured a place in the Sunday's final for the Germans as the hosts England will face eight-time European champions Germany at Wembley.

Follow 

 for the