U.S., Rapinoe make loud, clear statement
Americans defeat France while scuffling with soccer bosses, President Trump
What a statement. By a country. By a team. And by a player. Megan Rapinoe, fresh off a globally discussed digital scuffle with the president of the United States, scored two goals to lead her team over host France 21 and into the Women’s World Cup semifinals.
And now the U.S. team is two games away from defending its world championship.
Captain Rapinoe, the lavenderhaired winger from Redding who does not back down from a battle, stepped into the fire of our times this week just days before entering the heat of competition.
When made aware of video of her saying, many months ago, that she wouldn’t go to the White House, President Trump unleashed his wrath via Twitter. Rapinoe didn’t back down.
Not in a news conference. Not to the White House. And not on the field.
In a dramatic punctuation to her unusual week, in the fifth minute of the game, Rapinoe took a free kick after Alex Morgan was fouled. The ball found the back of the net without being touched, lasering through a tangle of legs and bodies, nutmegging French captain Amandine Henry and getting past goalie Sarah Bouhaddi to give the U.S. a 10 lead. Rapinoe ran to
the corner of the field and stretched out her arms, soaking in the applause.
In the 65th minute, on a counterattack, Tobin Heath crossed the ball to Rapinoe for a tapin and a 20 lead.
Talented France, with a country behind it, pushed hard in the final third of the game. Wendie Renard heightened the tension, heading in a goal off a free kick in the 81st minute. France continued to mount an attack but couldn’t get the equalizer.
Now the host is out, and the loss assures the French won’t be at the Tokyo Olympics next summer. The French women, who dreamed of winning a World Cup to match last summer’s achievement of their countrymen, left the field in tears. For many on the French team, the semifinals and final will be particularly bitter, as they will be played in Lyon, the professional home to many of the starters.
But Friday’s moment belonged to the Americans. And particularly to Rapinoe.
If anyone thought that Rapinoe, 33, or her team would be rattled by being called out by the most wellknown tweeter in the world, they haven’t been paying attention to the focus and preparation of these women. They are in a battle for equal treatment, filing a gender discrimination lawsuit against their own federation just weeks before the biggest tournament of their lives. They didn’t avoid their legal action because they thought it might be a distraction.
Theirs is a legacy honed by players like Julie Foudy and Michelle Akers and Brandi Chastain a generation ago. Like so many athletes, these women have no problem managing both their performances on the field and their convictions off the field. For prepared, engaged athletes, it’s really not that hard.
Stick to sports? Why, oh why choose to be so onedimensional?
The scene Friday was the stuff of women’s soccer dreams, dreams largely created by the previous incarnations of the U.S. team, which has set the standard in the sport and is now witnessing the seeds it helped sow growing around the world.
The stadium in Paris was packed, with tickets going for upward of $15,000. Both anthems were sung at goosebumpenducing levels. Word from those at Parc des Princes was that French fans outnumbered the Americans — but the cheers for both teams were raucous. And applause for Rapinoe, from both fan bases, was long and loud.
A huge banner with the visage of Marianne, the national personification of the French Republic, the Goddess of Liberty, was unveiled in the stands and rippled in the sweltering heat. Throughout the tense game, noise reverberated through the stadium.
All over this country — and probably all around France — there were watch parties. At Avaya Stadium in San Jose, several hundred fans — mostly families with young children — packed the grass area in front of the big screen. Stars and stripes and Alex Morgan jerseys were the fashion of the day.
Facing their most talented opponent yet, a team that they hadn’t beaten in their past three meetings (going 021), the United States made a statement. Several of their biggest question marks came through: Crystal Dunn, who has been playing out of position at right back, withstood blistering attacks. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was tested and survived.
And Rapinoe, the smart and savvy captain, proved she is the biggest of biggame players. Predicted by many months ago to lose her starting spot to a younger player, she has made this tournament her own.
Now the U.S. team will face England, a talented team that has grown steadily in its achievements and support over the past decade. England is searching for its first major title. The Americans are determined to hang on to the World Cup.
Who wants to step in their path this week?