Megan Rapinoe is experiencing her final Women’s World Cup berth from an unfamiliar position: the bench.
The U.S. soccer star — who announced her impending retirement ahead of the 2023 World Cup — has not started either of the USWNT’S first two tournament matches. Nor did she come off the bench in Team USA’s 1-1 draw vs. the Netherlands, where manager Vlatko Andonovski made only one substitution all game.
Rapinoe told reporters ahead of the team’s Group E finale vs. Portugal she “could’ve helped” the U.S. avoid the draw, had manager Andonovski subbed her in.
“All of us on the bench,” Rapinoe said (via Fox Sports). “We think we should be on the field as much as players on the field think that they should be on the field. Every player on the field that starts the game thinks that they should play 90 minutes, and every player who doesn’t, who’s a sub, thinks that they should be on at some point.
MORE: Why is Megan Rapinoe not playing?
Andonovski defended his decision to make only one substitution vs. the Dutch, saying he didn’t want to disrupt the flow and cohesion of the USWNT members on the field.
His lone sub did help make the ultimate difference in the game, as well: Andonovski replaced Savannah DeMelo with Rose Lavelle at halftime and, 17 minutes in, the latter…
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