<div class="container triplecase">
    <section class="sectionshowcase clearfix">
        <div class="ishowcase">
            <?php $popular = new WP_Query(array('posts_per_page' => 3, 'meta_key' => 'popular_posts', 'orderby' => 'meta_value_num', 'order' => 'DESC'));
            while ($popular->have_posts()) : $popular->the_post();
                $thumb = wp_get_attachment_image_src(get_post_thumbnail_id(), 'medium_large');
            ?>
                <div class="asset type-content-article img" style="background-image: url('<?php echo $thumb['0']; ?>');">
                    <a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>" title="<?php the_title(); ?>" style="mainStory">
                        <figure class="img"></figure>
                        <div class="content">
                            <h3><?php the_title(); ?></h3>
                        </div>
                    </a>
                </div>
            <?php endwhile;
            wp_reset_postdata(); ?>
        </div>
    </section>
</div>