It’s no secret Donald Trump hates anthem protests; he’s said NFL players who kneel during the national anthem shouldn’t be in the United States. So it’s no surprise the U.S. president is criticizing USWNT captain Megan Rapinoe for continuing to protest during the national anthem throughout the Women’s World Cup.
Guys, say these things to any female fan and she’ll instantly love you. No really, she will.
1. Where’s your boyfriend? You came with him right?
Wouldn’t you like to know.
2. I bet you can’t name five people on the team.
The 2019 Gold Cup is in full motion and the group stages are wrapping up with the protagonists you would expect to make it to the next phase making it into the knockout stages. The tournament is Concacaf's premier regional tournament that comes every two years and almost always features the same two in the final: the United States and Mexico, with Mexico often coming out on top. That wasn’t the case in the last edition of the Copa Oro, with the U.S. taking home the cup, beating Jamaica 2-1 in the final. Jamaica definitely had an unexpected run to the final and Mexico disappointed.
Sweden and Canada played a pretty dour match at the Women’s World Cup today, but given the added spice of knockout football at a major international tournament, the second half provided some immense drama despite the irregularity of attacking action.
The opening 45 minutes produced zero shots on target — a first at this World Cup — but things sprang to life in the 55th minute when Sweden grabbed the lead. The run and pass from Kosovare Asllani in the buildup to the goal was sensational, and Stina Blackstenius provided the finish.
With the USWNT and Spain knotted at 1-1 after the hour mark at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims on Monday, La Roja’s Patricia Guijarro broke free on the left-hand side of the U.S. defense and fizzed a shot just wide of Alyssa Naeher’s far post. It was in this moment that a possible upset of historic proportions went from “there’s no way in hell” to “oh shit, this kinda feels like it’s happening.”
The USWNT overcame a spirited, physical and tactically disciplined Spain to advance to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup and setup an enthralling match with France, but the manner of the victory was hardly assuring.
The U.S. required two penalties from captain Megan Rapinoe — one in the seventh minute and the next in the 76th — to overcome a defensive error that allowed Jennifer Hermoso to score the first goal against the USWNT of this tournament.