“Big personality” Rapinoe thrives best under pressure

NARIS» 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 “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 with U.S. Soccer over equal pay back home, 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.

“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.

Rapinoe has been particularly vocal about equitable pay and the treatment of female athletes, while also critical of FIFA for not investing more in the women’s game.

She has pointed to the disparity in the prize money for the men’s and women’s World Cups. France, the men’s winner in Russia, was awarded $38 million, while the winner of the women’s tournament will take home just $4 million.