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USA star Megan Rapinoe has been forced to correct a reporter in an awkward exchange after her side’s 0-0 draw against Portugal on Tuesday night.
Her side came into the Women’s World Cup as the two-time defending champions and tournament favourites.
By the end of the group stage, they are relieved to still be in the competition, finishing second to Netherlands in Group E.
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Had Portugal substitute Ana Capeta’s shot gone into the net rather than hit the post and rebounded out in stoppage time, the Americans would have almost certainly been eliminated.
As it is, they are advancing with a sigh of relief.
Post-game Rapinoe was reminded of USA’s campaign in 2011 when they finished second in Group C to Sweden, however the reporter added the USA “were still world champions”. The forward was quick to correct that statement.
“Japan won in 2011 actually, we did make it to the final,” she replied.
Rapinoe was then asked if she “was hoping for any type of opponent” in the knockout round and was blunt in her response again.
”Just the next one, I don’t think we get to hand pick them at this stage,” she laughed.
The USA will play the winner of Group G in its next match, which will be either Sweden or Italy, most likely the former.
Near miss denies Portugal historic feat
While they may not be playing their best at the moment, the US players were quick to point out after the game that they are, in fact, still playing.
“We’re not happy with the performance we put out there, but at the same time we’re moving on,” Alex Morgan said. “This isn’t the first time in my career that we’ve moved on second in the group.”
In this World Cup campaign, the back-to-back defending champions have scored just four goals during the three-game group stage. And three goals were scored in their tournament opener against Vietnam.
The 2019 United States team more than tripled that number in its group-stage opener against Thailand, which it won 13-0 in a record for goals in a match at a Women’s World Cup.
“We trust our forwards, we trust our players to get it done. We haven’t in the group stage –- and that’s on us,” defender Julie Ertz said. “Once it gets to the knockout stages, you kind of become a different team. It’s just do or die at that point.”
— with AP.
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