Alexandra Popp made an impressive return to the international stage with a pair of goals in in its opening game at the .

T after experiencing muscular problems prior to the match. SheB次元官网网址檇 scored in each of GermanyB次元官网网址檚 previous matches in the competition, becoming the first player to score in five consecutive games in the womenB次元官网网址檚 tournament.

B次元官网网址淔or me, personally, IB次元官网网址檝e been happy IB次元官网网址檝e been healthy all year,B次元官网网址� Popp said. B次元官网网址淚 can support my team. That is important to me, and that gives me strength, and I hope that stays the same throughout the tournament.B次元官网网址�

Against Morocco, Popp showed why she is such a crucial piece of a German team that was considered one of the pre-tournament favorites.

She scored the first two goals of the night, heading in goals in the 11th and 39th minutes and celebrating the second by B次元官网网址渃allingB次元官网网址� home and pointing to the sky. She borrowed the idea from the 1980s move E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

B次元官网网址淚 B次元官网网址榩hone homeB次元官网网址� because IB次元官网网址檓 a long way from home,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not just for the people who sit in front of the TV at home, but also the people who canB次元官网网址檛 be with us anymore.B次元官网网址�

With the brace, Popp tied Inka Grings as GermanyB次元官网网址檚 third all-time leading scorer with 64 goals. She now has five goals across the four World Cups she has played in.

Popp finished her recent season with Wolfsburg as the top scorer in the Frauen-Bundesliga with 16 goals. The club was unable to capture the league championship last season, although Popp has helped them capture seven titles since her debut in 2012.

In 2016, Popp won her first Olympic gold medal, helping Germany beat Sweden.

And Germany fans will hope that Popp can continue to show the form she showed in Melbourne as it pursues its third World Cup title.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 an amazing player, and I think you could also see today on the pitch that sheB次元官网网址檚 always there,B次元官网网址� teammate Sara D盲britz said. B次元官网网址淪he scored two goals, two important ones. So weB次元官网网址檙e very happy to have her on our team. SheB次元官网网址檚 one of the leaders.B次元官网网址�

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Emily Dozier is a student at the University of GeorgiaB次元官网网址檚 Carmical Sports Media Institute.

B次元官网网址擝次元官网网址� AP WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Cup coverage:

Emily Dozier, The Associated Press

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