It ended in the most excruciating way for Megan Rapinoe: a penalty kick skied over the crossbar. What was even more shocking was her reaction to it.
USA fans have been expressing their anger at Megan Rapinoe because of her missed penalty kick as the United States women’s national team exited in the round of 16 for the first time in its history. The kick was bad enough, but then the broadcast showed her smiling and laughing afterward.
Rapinoe was one of three U.S. players to miss their penalties in a shootout that ended 5-4 in favor of Sweden after the game was scoreless through regular and extra time.
Asked what she was thinking when she stepped up to take her penalty, Rapinoe said: “I’m gonna score. Back of the net. Always.”
Clearly, that was not the outcome.
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Rapinoe’s smile did not last long as she was then among several players reduced to tears after the defeat was confirmed.
The 38-year-old was interviewed by FOX moments after the winning goal, converted by Sweden’s Lina Hurtig and eventually awarded by referee Stephanie Frappart. “I thought we played really well, I am so happy for us that we went out playing the way that we did,” she said.
Following the interview, she was then asked about smiling after the missed penalty. “It’s a sick, sick joke. I’ve never hit it over, when I miss they are saved.”
The result left the USWNT with their worst-ever finish at a World Cup. It also means Sweden will face Japan on Friday, Aug. 11 in the quarter-finals while USA players are left to reflect on what might have been.
What a terrible ending.
