Megan Rapinoe footage after laughing backlash, Trump criticism and her response

08 August 2023 , 19:15

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Megan Rapinoe was seen laughing in footage released after the US were knocked out of the World Cup (Image: togethxr/ atouchmore/ instagram)

Footage has emerged of an emotional Megan Rapinoe laughing with her family after the US was eliminated from the World Cup following her penalty shootout miss.

The veteran winger's failure to convert her spot-kick proved to be the fatal blow for the Stars and Stripes as they crashed out of the tournament. Sweden would eventually get the better of their frequent foes by edging the encounter 5-4 in a dramatic shootout to advance into the quarter-finals.

The Californian is a two-time world champion but her vast experience seemed to evade her in a crucial moment for her country as she sent her attempt into the stands. As she walked away from the penalty spot, she looked as surprised as anyone in the stadium after her shot sailed over the crossbar.

As she made her way back to her teammates at the centre circle, the US stalwart broke out into a beaming smile, while visibly laughing as her compatriots came over to console her. After scoring the winning penalty as the nation won the World Cup four years ago, the moment seemed to encapsulate what had been an uncharacteristically poor showing for the country on this stage.

Now, footage has emerged of the megastar from after the game as the reality set in that the US had crashed out at an early stage by their own standards. Initially looking visibly upset following the events of the game, she was seen embracing her mother and father, as well as friends and family.

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After this, the star was then seen smiling and laughing once more, just minutes after it had been confirmed that the team would be heading home. Rapinoe has previously addressed the reasons behind her reaction after the events in Melbourne, saying: "That's like a sick, sick joke. I've never hit it over, when I miss they are saved.

"That's why I had that smile on my face. I'm like, 'You've got to be f***ing kidding me. I'm going to miss a penalty?' I mean, honestly, I can't remember the last time I missed."

Megan Rapinoe was seen embracing her friends and family after her penalty miss for the US in the World Cup (togethxr/ atouchmore/ instagram)

Megan Rapinoe embraces a member of the crowd after her penalty miss for the USA (togethxr/ atouchmore/ instagram)

Likewise, she defended her performance in the game itself after she was introduced as a substitute, telling FOX: "I thought we played really well, I am so happy for us that we went out playing the way that we did. This is dark comedy, I missed a penalty. This is the balance to the beautiful side of the game.

"I felt really grateful and joyful and I know this is the end and that is sad. This is the only time I have been in one of these [losing a World Cup penalty shoot-out] - it has been an honour."

Former US President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social page to post a fierce attack on the 38-year-old, while seemingly taking aim at the winger and her teammate's political views. In a typically brash and damning rant, the Republican also took it as an opportunity to criticise his successor in the White House, President Joe Biden and his presidency.

Megan Rapinoe is seen crying with a member of the crowd as she reacts to the USWNT being knocked out of the World Cup after a penalty shoot out loss (Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

He wrote: “The “shocking and totally unexpected” loss by the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team to Sweden is fully emblematic of what is happening to the our once great Nation under Crooked Joe Biden. Many of our players were openly hostile to America - No other country behaved in such a manner, or even close. WOKE EQUALS FAILURE. Nice shot Megan, the USA is going to Hell!!! MAGA.”

The 202-time US international has been open in her support of a variety of causes in previous years and has been a vocal advocate of LGBTQ+ rights, as well as the Black Lives Matter movement. She has also been a major proponents in USWNT's campaign for equal pay.

In addition, Rapinoe was open in her declaration that the USWNT would not attend a reception at the White House during Trump's presidency ahead of the team's previous World Cup triumph back in 2019. The one-time Ballon d'Or winner was co-captain at the time and stayed true to her word as the team duly avoided a trip to meet the President.

Tom Beattie