The international career of Megan Rapinoe ended in a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Sweden on Sunday with her failed kick at goal helping to send the U.S.A. team crashing out of the soccer World Cup underway in New Zealand and Australia.
Rapinoe and Sophia Smith missed penalties that could have given the U.S. the win, and Kelley O’Hara missed the Americans’ final shot to give Sweden the opening it needed.
In an interview after the dramatic finish to the contest staged in Melbourne, Australia, Rapinoe said: “I mean, this is like a sick joke. For me personally, this is like dark comedy that I missed a penalty. This is the balance to the beautiful side of the game. I think it can be cruel.”
"I think this team has always fought for so much more and that's been the most rewarding part for me... To know that we've used our really special talent to do something that's changed the world forever." 🇺🇸❤️@USWNT's @mPinoe speaks with @JennyTaft after the game ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/NUx9Oku4mf
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 6, 2023
The result ended the international career of Rapinoe, the Golden Boot winner of the 2019 tournament who is retiring after the World Cup.
It is the earliest exit in tournament history for the United States, four-time winners of the World Cup.
The United States claimed the last two Women’s World Cups and four of the eight editions held before this year’s event Down Under.
They had never gone out before the semi-final stage.
This time they have been sent packing in the last 16 having won just one game and that an unconvincing 3-0 defeat of Vietnam.
Megan Rapinoe #15 of the United States smiles to herself after missing her penalty kick during the shootout at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Sweden and the United States in Melbourne, Australia. (Robin Alam/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Megan Rapinoe and Kristie Mewis of USA embrace after the team’s defeat through the penalty shootout in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Sweden and USA at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 06, 2023 in Melbourne / Naarm, Australia. ( Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Andi Sullivan #17 of the U.S. hugs Megan Rapinoe #15 after the dramatic finish to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match. (Robin Alam/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Brought off the bench against Sweden, her final act for her country was to put her penalty over the bar and send her country’s hopes with it into oblivion.
Plenty of soccer fans on twitter moved to voice their exasperation with her final effort.
BREAKING: Woke US Women’s Soccer Humiliation
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 6, 2023
After winning back-to-back World Cups the heavily favored Team USA has been ELIMINATED by Sweden in the 16th round.
Team USA’s downfall was delivered by anti-America, anti-woman activist Megan Rapinoe’s EMBARRASSING free kick here 🥴 pic.twitter.com/uO3aDQcYbl
Not only did the anti-American WOKE woman's soccer team lose today.
— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) August 6, 2023
Megan Rapinoe missed a penalty kick that would have sealed the win for the USA🤣🤣🤣
Talk about a win-win pic.twitter.com/S0hYPWX77E
We don’t have to see Megan Rapinoe on our tv anymore #FIFAWomensWorldCup2023 pic.twitter.com/GUQbEYeKUh
— Lee (@9Rolee) August 6, 2023
Megan Rapinoe laughing after missing the penalty 😂
— Amir Reza (@amir7reza7) August 6, 2023
She talked all that shit about equal pay and at the end she was the one that knocked them out of the world cup #USWNT pic.twitter.com/RJl6kEVJvJ
The next World Cup is in 2027 and it could be on home soil, with the United States bidding to co-host the tournament with Mexico.
