Megan Rapinoe Hits Back at Detractors After Penalty Miss in USWNT’s World Cup Exit

Megan Rapinoe has responded to criticism following her penalty miss in the USWNT’s World Cup exit. The 38-year-old, playing in her final game for the team, failed to score during the penalty shootout in their last-16 defeat to Sweden, which led to backlash from angry USA fans. One of the main points of criticism was Rapinoe’s immediate laughter after missing the spot-kick. Former president Donald Trump also took the opportunity to reignite his feud with Rapinoe, sarcastically commenting on her miss in a social media post. Rapinoe dismissed Trump’s comments as fake, stating that they were filled with words that didn’t make sense. She also expressed frustration at the way the team was talked about during the tournament, highlighting the contradictory criticism they received regardless of their performance. In response to the criticism she received after the miss, Rapinoe defended her decision to take the penalty, expressing her willingness to be in that moment and give her best. She called the criticism fake, disingenuous, and absurd. Rapinoe also addressed other critics of the USWNT, including former team-mates and soccer legends, emphasizing that they have been waiting for the team to stumble and accusing them of wanting to undermine the team’s fight for equality and success. Despite the criticism, Rapinoe received praise from supporters in New York for her athleticism and what she represents as a face of the equal pay movement. The article ends by highlighting Rapinoe’s accomplishments, including winning two World Cups with the USWNT and her impressive goal-scoring record.