USWNT star Megan Rapinoe responds to Women's World Cup benching

30 July 2023 , 20:29

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Megan Rapinoe was an unused substitute in the USWNT's Group E match against the Netherlands. (Image: Getty Images)

United States women's national team forward Megan Rapinoe expressed disappointment that she didn't feature in Thursday's 1-1 draw against the Netherlands at the Women's World Cup. Head coach Vlatko Andonovski only made one change, and Rapinoe suggested she could have helped the Americans to a better result.

The 38-year-old, who will retire after the tournament, was also benched for the USWNT's Group E opener against Vietnam but appeared as a substitute. Andonovski's squad management has been the source of intensive debate, with several former squad members criticizing his hesitance to make second-half changes.

"I think I could have helped," Rapinoe said of the Netherlands game. "But I think Lynn [Williams] could have helped, and I think Trinity [Rodman] was helping, and I think [Sophia Smith] was helping, and we had chances. It was right there for us. I don't think that it was like all the players on the field didn't do their job. I think that they were giving everything and still creating chances up till the very end and just wasn't able to get that last goal.

"[Andonovski] knows every single sub wants to go in the game. He explained to [the media] that he felt like we had the momentum. Ultimately, that's his decision. I feel like the players that were off the field felt like players on field were going to score."

Former USWNT defender Ali Krieger, once Rapinoe's teammate, called out Andonovski from her perch as a pundit after splitting points with the Netherlands. She was frustrated that the coach said he avoided late substitutions to maintain a rhythm.

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"I do think there was a missed opportunity when the Dutch were tiring down," Krieger told ESPN+. "Especially in the last few opportunities we had at the end of the game, we could've made some changes to try to win the game. So, I don't know what the 'rhythm' was all about, because I do think adding those substitutes could've actually created more rhythm than I saw."

Rapinoe is one of the most accomplished USWNT players ever. She has won two Women's World Cups and secured 200 international caps. But at this point in her career, she's taken a backseat to younger players. She might not have been the choice to come on against the Dutch even if Andonovski made changes. Forwards Lynn Williams and Alyssa Thompson also await opportunities from a well-stocked bench, while Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith have earned the starts on the wings.

Megan Rapinoe received her 200th international cap in a win over Vietnam. (Getty Images)

Still, Rapinoe's self-belief in her ability to influence a game hasn't wavered. Needing a victory over Portugal on Tuesday to stand a realistic chance of finishing first in Group E, she remains eager to participate in the USWNT's quest to win a record third consecutive Women's World Cup.

"You can still play at an extremely high level," she said of herself. "You can still keep a really high standard. You still have a lot to offer, both on the field and off the field.

"Maybe you're not going to be a starter playing 90 minutes or playing the bulk of the games. But you know, sometimes the veteran players, that's not what you need. You need the 20 minutes in two games that wins the team the tournament, or wins the game and gets to the next round."

Dan Bernstein