Disheartened USA soccer fans directed their ire towards Megan Rapinoe after witnessing her reaction to a decisive missed penalty during the intense World Cup penalty shoot-out against Sweden. The unfortunate outcome led to USWNT’s heartbreaking elimination from the tournament and marked Rapinoe’s final World Cup game for the USA.
As the Swedish team celebrated their victory on the field in Melbourne, Rapinoe, visibly upset and in tears alongside her devastated teammates, bore the weight of her missed penalty. However, it was her immediate response that left many fans bewildered and unsympathetic. As she jogged back to the halfway line after taking USA’s fourth penalty and launching it high over the crossbar, she seemed to be smirking and even laughing to herself, leaving fans questioning her sportsmanship and commitment.
Social media was ablaze with fans expressing their frustration and disappointment. One fan questioned the seriousness of the team, remarking that the laughing portrayed the situation as a mere joke, rather than a critical competition. Another supporter, who had previously admired Rapinoe, found her reaction unbecoming after missing a game-winning penalty.
A different USWNT fan couldn’t hide their disillusionment with Rapinoe, stating that they never wanted to see her on their television again after such an anticlimactic ending to her career. The image of Rapinoe laughing after the missed penalty even found its way into nightmares, as one distraught USA supporter described it as a haunting joke.
Rapinoe briefly spoke to FOX after the game, attempting to find balance amidst the emotional turmoil. She acknowledged her team’s strong performance while grappling with the disappointment of the missed penalty. Reflecting on her legacy with the US team, Rapinoe expressed pride in their fight for more than just victories on the field, stating that they had used their exceptional talent to bring about positive change in the world.
The USWNT’s actions during the tournament had divided their fanbase, with some players choosing not to sing the national anthem before games. FOX Soccer analyst Alexi Lalas alluded to this division, expressing hope that the team could unite Americans moving forward.
Despite the challenging loss at the last-16 stage, USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski praised the team’s resilience and bravery, acknowledging the cruelty that soccer could sometimes bring.
The US team entered the tournament with grand aspirations of achieving an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup victory, but their performances fell short of the expectations for an all-conquering side. Despite starting with a 3-0 win over Vietnam and drawing 1-1 against Holland and 0-0 with Portugal in the group stage, the team failed to maintain the standard they were known for, ultimately leading to Rapinoe’s farewell from the soccer field.