Retired U.S. Soccer star Megan Rapinoe is no stranger to controversy. Now she is trying to clear her name after being seen smirking after missing a critical penalty shot at the 2023 Women’s World Cup Sunday.
Rapinoe misses the fourth!
🇺🇸:✅✅✅❌
🇸🇪:✅✅❌ pic.twitter.com/RVbhQoclla— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 6, 2023
Rapinoe was pilloried on social media after she appeared to laugh at her misfortune when her penalty kick went high and over the top of the goal instead of into the net.
Her miss helped the U.S. lose to Sweden and sent the U.S. Women’s National Team home early from this year’s World Cup.
However, Rapinoe aims to set the record straight and claims that she was not laughing in joy at the missed kick – instead, it was a rueful chuckle.
“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,” Rapinoe said. “I’m like, ‘You’ve got to be f–king kidding me.’ I’m going to miss a penalty?’ Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I missed.”
“For me, personally, I’m just like this is dark comedy. I missed a penalty,” Rapinoe added. “This is the balance to the beautiful side of the game. I think it can be cruel and just not our day.”
After the L at the World Cup today, Megan Rapinoe was asked what her favorite memory of playing for US soccer was.
Her response was “equal pay” pic.twitter.com/zgeCM99WWW
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) August 6, 2023
Rapinoe has recently been scrutinized for her comments on equal pay between the men’s and women’s teams, and her apparent attitude over her failed penalty kick only contributed further to last weekend’s negative publicity.
Rapinoe appears determined to reshape her image and clear her name. It remains to be seen whether she will be successful in this endeavor.