Trump, hat trick, farewell tour
Rapinoe is working on her very special mission
7/21/2023 3:21 p.m
The US girls are reaching for their third title in a row at the World Cup. Ahead of the opener against Vietnam, the main focus is on Megan Rapinoe’s farewell tour. The icon, who has already messed with Donald Trump, goes into the tournament free – and wants to “write history”.
In the constant rain of Auckland, Megan Rapinoe smirked like a small child with her defending champions, the dazzling star of the US girls showed the victory sign with a broad grin at the group photo in Eden Park. At the start of the big farewell tour, everything feels a bit like the first time. “I can’t believe we’re back at the World Cup,” Rapinoe enthused. “It’s the best moment of my career. That feeling never gets old.”
Especially since the 38-year-old can achieve something unique at her fourth and definitely last World Cup with the title hat-trick. “It’s in the back of our minds. Of course we want to make history, that would be great,” announced the attacking midfielder. After the triumphs in 2015 and 2019, a mandatory task awaits at the start against newcomer Vietnam on Saturday night (3 a.m. CET/Sportschau.de) – with champion Rapinoe in a new role.
The top scorer and best player of the 2019 World Cup will be given the job of noble joker this time, because of a blow she had missed parts of the preparation. That’s why her importance “doesn’t get any smaller,” emphasized coach Vlatko Andonovski: “She’s very important to us, she understands her role and we know that we need the best from Rapinoe on and off the field to win this World Cup.” Your playing time will “increase” as the tournament progresses.
The courageous anti-discrimination activist is still “a role model” for her teammates, said co-captain Lindsey Horan: “She’s just a completely different kind of player, she’s so intelligent, how she moves the ball and thinks about the game.” Regardless of her sporting quality, Rapinoe is a “great voice for this team, for women, for everyone in our country, for everything she stands for. She is unique.”
Working for LGBT+ and against Trump
Few players have made their mark on women’s football like the 199-time international (63 international goals) from two-time US runners-up OL Seattle Reign. The homosexual Californian impressed even more than with her great sporting successes with her social commitment to the LGBT+ movement and her commitment to equality, not only in women’s issues and against oppression of all kinds.
What is also remembered is her public dispute during the 2019 World Cup in France, where she was the top scorer and best player of the tournament, with the then US President Donald Trump about her refusal to receive her national team colleagues in the White House in the event of another World Cup triumph. Three years earlier, Rapinoe was the first white professional and the first woman to kneel down during the US national anthem in solidarity with US football player Colin Kaepernick to take a stand against police violence and racial discrimination. In the US team’s fight for higher bonuses, the midfield strategist was the face of her team.
She also wants to show her full strength again in New Zealand and Australia. After she announced her retirement at the beginning of July, the 2012 Olympic champion is free to enter the tournament. “We don’t have to be asked questions every time, every single game,” said Rapinoe. “I can just enjoy it and focus on winning the tournament.” At the start against Vietnam, she could create a special anniversary at Eden Park with her 200th international match. At best, her national team career will only end after her 206th appearance in the final in Sydney with the 46.5 centimeter high World Cup trophy.