Megan Rapinoe wished a unique end for her last Women’s World Cup. Even with the disappointing conclusion, she was grateful for her wildly profitable run with the U.S. nationwide workforce.
Rapinoe’s World Cup profession ended on Sunday within the Round of 16, when the United States misplaced to Sweden on penalties after a scoreless draw. The outspoken 38-year-old introduced final month that this may be her final worldwide event.
“I wish we were moving on and I could guarantee a championship and all that,” she mentioned. “But it doesn’t take anything from this experience, or my career in general. I feel so lucky and so grateful to play as long as I have, and to be on the successful teams that I have.”
Known for her shiny hair colours, Rapinoe teared up as she spoke to reporters after the match. She missed her penalty kick, as did teammates Kelley O’Hara and Sophia Smith.
“I’m ready in a lot of ways to be done,” she mentioned. “I feel at peace with that. So it’s sad but I’m OK.”
At this World Cup, Rapinoe had taken on more of a reserve role. She made her 200th appearance with the team as a substitute in a 3-0 victory over Vietnam to open the tournament. She was also a sub in the final group match against Portugal, a disappointing scoreless draw.
After the loss to Sweden, captain Lindsey Horan and defender Julie Ertz were among those who embraced Rapinoe on the field.
“I just said I love her,” Horan said, welling up.
“It’s been a journey with her,” Ertz said. “She’s been an incredible player for so long. I just wanted to make sure I was able to tell her that.”
It was the team’s earliest exit from the World Cup. The United States won the last two tournaments and four overall, most of any nation. The team had never finished lower than third.
At the 2019 World Cup in France, Rapinoe scored six goals, including a penalty in a 2-0 victory over the Netherlands in the final. She also finished with three assists and claimed both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball for the best overall player.
Her victory pose, arms outstretched, became one of the iconic images of the dominant U.S. run.
Rapinoe also led the U.S. women’s long fight for equal pay with their male national team counterparts. Both teams reached contracts with U.S. Soccer last year that paid them equally and split tournament prize money.
As a fierce advocate for social justice issues, including gender equity and LGBTQ rights, she was awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President Joe Biden last year.
After joining the national team in 2006, she finishes her international career with two Women’s World Cup titles and an Olympic gold medal. She also won the Ballon d’Or and the Best FIFA Women’s Player awards — the game’s top individual honors — for her play in 2019.
“I don’t think there’s enough words to talk about Megan and her impact on this sport,” forward Lynn Williams said. “From equality, to human rights, the list goes on and on. So that’s going to sting a little bit, not to see her on this team and wearing the crest anymore.
“I can’t wait to see what she’s going to do in her next life, her next career.”
At her last World Cup, Rapinoe was the elder stateswoman on a workforce that had 14 gamers showing for the primary time within the event. Like former teammates Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd, she now will step apart to make manner for the following technology.
Rapinoe will not be essentially finished with soccer. She has mentioned she’s going to play out the season together with her membership workforce, OL Reign within the National Women’s Soccer League. She might say goodbye to followers again residence in a number of extra U.S. matches to wrap up the yr.
But her event days are over. In her 202 total appearances for the United States, she has scored 63 targets.
“I really feel actually proud, actually pleased with this workforce, actually pleased with all of the gamers I’ve performed with. I’ve simply cherished each second of my profession,” she said. “I’ll simply miss it to dying, nevertheless it additionally seems like the proper time. And that is OK.”
This story has been revealed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content.
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
