Rapinoe fires US to England showdown
Megan Rapinoe began the week upsetting a president and ended it crushing an entire nation as she scored twice to dump France out of their own World Cup. Her celebrations oozed defiance, as well as joy. It will be one of the enduring images, arms out, chest out, chin in the air, expression smug.
Rapinoe; equal opportunities campaigner, scourge of Donald Trump, face of a peaceful protest and a World Cup sensation.
When Rapinoe announced after the win over Spain that she would refuse an invite to the White House as long as Trump resided in it, the purple-haired forward sparked a war of words with one of the world’s most powerful men. She was not fazed.
When she took to the pitch against France, she was taking on one of the best football teams in the world with home advantage and a boisterous, partisan crowd roaring them on. She was not perturbed.
The French will not take defeat well, especially as they felt they should have had a penalty late on when the ball hit Kelley O’hara’s arm. Now they must watch other European nations try to defy American ambition. That unenviable task will fall to England first. The special relationship is about to turn a little sour in the build-up to that semifinal in Lyon.
“I admire England’s confidence,” Rapinoe said. “If you’re at this stage of the tournament, they should be confident about winning the World Cup. They are one of the most powerful nations, in great form.
“I’m motivated by people who like me, who are fighting for the same things. I take more energy from that than from trying to prove anyone wrong. But for me, to be gay and fabulous, during Pride month at the World Cup, is nice.”
The US are big and strong and powerful. They would love to crush England’s dreams as cruelly as they did those of France.
This was a special night for the women’s game. It was the sort intoxicating sporting occasion that lingers in body and mind. Host nation versus strongest nation, French finesse and flair pitched against American athleticism and power. These games can so often meander into an anti-climax, but this did not disappoint.
After falling behind to Rapinoe’s vicious free-kick into the near post, which evaded everyone before finding the net, this was a test of the France team’s resolve.
Every tackle, every pass, every bit of skill, sparked applause. The home crowd willed them to score, but the US defence was superb and, with Eugenie Le Sommer hopelessly out of form, US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was protected, allowing Rapinoe to score her second, on the break, after Tobin Heath’s cross had evaded everyone rushing to the near post.
France were heading out. Wendie Renard pulled one back with a header. It set up the sort of tense, stomach-tumbling finale the contest deserved.
France
(4-3-3) Bouhaddi (Lyon); Torrent (Montpellier), Mbock Bathy (Lyon), Renard (Lyon), Majri (Lyon); Henry (Lyon), Thiney (Paris FCF), Bussaglia (Dijon); Diani (PSG), Gauvin (Montpellier), Le Sommer (Lyon). Subs Cascarino (Lyon) on for Gauvin 76, Asseyi (Bourdeaux) for Le Sommer 82. Booked Mbock Bathy, Bussaglia.
United States (4-3-3) Naeher (Chicago); O’hara (Utah Royals), Dahlkemper (NC Courage), Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals), Dunn (NC Courage); Lavelle (Washington Spirit), Ertz (Chicago), Mewis (NC Courage); Heath (Portland), Morgan (Orlando Pride), Rapinoe (Reign FC). Subs Horan (Portland) for Lavelle 64, Lloyd (Sky Blue) for Mewis 82, Press (Utah Royals) for Rapinoe 88.
Referee Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine).