U.S. team’s Rapinoe good as goal

Unafraid to speak her mind, fiery competitor is heart of brash squad

PARIS — With a colorful vocabulary and manner to match her pinkish-purple hair, Megan Rapinoe stands out simply by being Megan Rapinoe.

She celebrated her two goals in the quarterfinal match against France at the Women’s World Cup by raising both arms in victory, reminiscent of Russell Crowe in the movie “Gladiator.” Are you not entertained? She spawned many memes in the process.

“She’s just a big personality both on and off the pitch,” coach Jill Ellis said. “And I think she honestly thrives in these moments.”

In securing the 2-1 victory that knocked the hosts out of the tournament, the United States now moves on to a semifinal match against England on Tuesday in Lyon. If they can get past the Lionesses, the Americans will get a shot at their second straight World Cup title and fourth overall in a July 7 final.

From a high-profile battle back home with U.S. Soccer over equal pay, to the exuberant celebration of every goal in the 13-0 tournament opener against Thailand, the U.S. team is unapologetically brash and confident.

If anyone embodies the U.S. ethos, it’s Rapinoe.

She has five goals in this World Cup, tying her with teammate Alex Morgan, England’s Ellen White and Australia’s Sam Kerr for the tournament lead. She is the first player to score two goals in back-to-back games since Brazil’s Marta in 2007: Rapinoe also scored twice in a 2-1 victory over Spain to open the round of 16.

And sometimes she gets just as much attention for what she does away from the game.

Rapinoe was at the center of a controversy in the days leading up to what was called Le Grand Match when video surfaced of her saying she wouldn’t visit the White House if the team won the World Cup — and dropping in an expletive for emphasis.

While the interview was from January, it attracted President Donald Trump’s attention and he tweeted: “Megan should never disrespect our Country, the White House, or our Flag, especially since so much has been done for her & the team.” Trump added that he would invite the team to Washington, win or lose.

Rapinoe said she stood by the statement, with the exception of her coarse language. Then she went out

and scored five minutes into the game against France.

“You can hear it in her comments and how she presents herself. She’s a very experienced, eloquent person. I would just kind of point to the performance tonight and I’d say if anything this stuff just bounces off her, I think it even pushes her forward,”

Ellis said afterward.

Rapinoe has always been unafraid to speak her mind.

“I don’t really get energized by haters, or all that,” she said. “I feel like there are so many more people that love me, so I’m like, ‘Yay! People love me! This is great!’ I’m a little more energized by that.”