USA’s fearless Rapinoe takes on France, and her own president

United States’ Megan Rapinoe, front, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal from a penalty spot during the Women’s World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Spain and US at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, France, Monday, June 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Megan Rapinoe, the US co-captain at the women’s World Cup, has incurred the wrath of President Donald Trump who warned her not to “disrespect” her country after a video emerged of her vowing she would never go to the White House.

Fearless and ferocious, Rapinoe finds herself facing battles on and off the field as her side prepare to face host nation France in the quarter-finals on Friday.

The pink-haired attacking midfielder showed she is the USA’s go-to-woman as she scored the two penalty kicks to put her side into the last eight with a 2-1 victory over Spain.

But as she prepared on Wednesday for the biggest match of the tournament — one of the biggest ever in women’s football — Rapinoe found herself facing unfriendly fire from her own president.

In a series of tweets, Trump accused Rapinoe, one of the most recognisable faces of the US team, of “disrespect” after the broadcast of a video clip in which Rapinoe dismissed the idea of visiting the White House if the US team win the World Cup.

“I’m not going to the fucking White House,” Rapinoe said in the clip on Eight by Eight, a football magazine, repeating a point she had made before.

A furious Trump wasted no time in wading into the latest of his public feuds with high-profile athletes and celebrities.

He first pointed out that until the US team won the World Cup they would not be invited to the White House. Then he picked up on video that showed Rapinoe not singing the national anthem before games.

“Megan should never disrespect our Country, the White House, or our Flag, especially since so much has been done for her & the team. Be proud of the Flag that you wear,” the president tweeted.

Rapinoe, who has 156 caps and 47 international goals, is one of the four co-captains alongside Carli Lloyd, Becky Sauerbrunn and Alex Morgan.

Lloyd has largely been used as a replacement for Morgan, who was not at her best against Spain and may still be carrying a knock, while Sauerbrunn’s basic error led to Spain’s equalizer, two minutes after Rapinoe gave the USA an early lead.

“She’ll never have to buy another drink in her life because she bailed me out and she bailed the team out,” said Sauerbrunn after Monday’s win.

It looks as though Rapinoe could get her wish for a “total shit-show circus” at the Parc des Princes. Tickets for the match are fetching hundreds of euros on resale websites.

Not going to fake it’

The French women, replete with the stars of Lyon, Europe’s finest club side, are seeking their first ever World Cup and that means ending the USA’s supremacy.

“I think this is the game that everyone had circled, It’s going to be a great match,” said Rapinoe.

For Rapinoe, the circus this week has also been off the field.

She had long signaled her unwillingness to visit the White House, joining other US sports stars to refuse to go since Trump became president.

“I am not going to fake it, hobnob with the president, who is clearly against so many of the things that I am for and so many of the things that I actually am,” Rapinoe told Sports Illustrated.

In 2012, she came out as gay shortly before playing a key role in the US women’s gold medal-win at the London Olympics. She has since fought for LGBT rights.

There were calls for her to be dumped by the national team after she supported NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s 2016 protests by kneeling in solidarity during the national anthem.

She is one of the leaders of the US women’s fight for pay equality — they filed a lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation in March accusing the organization of gender discrimination.

“In every aspect of life, the more we can tackle the inequality from a lot a different angles, perspectives, different lanes the quicker we can rectify the problem,” Rapinoe has said.

Her willingness to stand up in key moments could be necessary in a feverish atmosphere in the French capital.

“I feel pretty good when she’s on penalties,” said Rose Lavelle, who won the controversial second spot-kick against Spain.

“I’ve watched her my whole life, she’s clutch.”