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A22 SPORTS
Thursday 4 July 2019

Rapinoe says she’s a proud American, addresses the critics

By ANNE M. PETERSON respect our Country, the to have the conversation.”
AP Sports Writer White House, or our Flag, “I feel very fortunate to be
LYON, France (AP) — Still especially since so much in this country, I’d never
facing a backlash over has been done for her & be able to do this in a lot
saying she wouldn’t visit the team.” Trump added of other places,” she said.
the White House if the Unit- that he would invite the “But also, that doesn’t
ed States wins the World team to Washington, win or mean that we can’t get
Cup, Megan Rapinoe said lose. better, it doesn’t mean
Wednesday that she con- Rapinoe has stood by her that we can’t strive to be
siders herself a proud Amer- statement, except for the better. I think this country
ican. coarse language she used. was founded on a lot of
“I think that I’m particularly, Rapinoe is known for being great ideals, but it was also
uniquely and very deeply outspoken and using color- founded on slavery. I think
American,” she said. “If we ful language. She has been we just need to be really
want to talk about the ide- particularly vocal about honest about that, and be
als that we stand for, the equitable pay and the really open in talking about
song and the anthem, and treatment of female ath- that so we can reconcile
what we were founded on, letes, while also critical of that and hopefully move
I think I’m extremely Ameri- FIFA for not investing more forward and make this
can.” in the women’s game. make country better for ev-
Rapinoe commented on Two years ago, Rapinoe eryone.”
the dustup a day after kneeled during the na- Rapinoe hasn’t been the
the U.S. team’s nail-biting tional anthem before a only American who has
2-1 semifinal win over Eng- few matches. She said she faced criticism at the World
land. Rapinoe did not play took the action in solidarity Cup. The whole team was
against England because with Colin Kaepernick, the chastised when players
of a minor hamstring injury, former San Francisco 49ers celebrated every goal
but said she’d be ready to quarterback who knelt dur- in a 13-0 rout of Thailand
go for the final Sunday. ing the anthem to call at- to open the tournament.
Last week in the days lead- tention to racial inequality. Alex Morgan’s tea-sipping
ing up to the quarterfinal U.S. Soccer responded by celebration after her goal
against France, a video sur- adopting a rule that says against England was also
faced of Rapinoe’s White players must stand for an- United States’ Megan Rapinoe kicks a ball during a training knocked.
House comment, which thems. session of the US Women’s Soccer team at a training ground in “Wah, wah, wah. We’re at
she punctuated with an In France she has not sung Lyon, France, Monday, July 1, 2019. the World Cup. I don’t think
expletive. the anthem or put her hand Associated Press anyone truly believes we
While the interview was on her heart while it plays ing and the actions that I’m I’m not perfect,” she said. disrespect the game or our
from January, it attracted before each game. taking. Maybe you don’t In her impassioned com- opponents,” Rapinoe said.
President Donald Trump’s “I think for the detractors I agree with every single ments, she said she be- “What do you want us to
attention and he tweeted: would have them look hard way that I do it and that lieves she stands for truth do? We work hard, we like
“Megan should never dis- into what I’m actually say- can be discussed. I know and honesty, and “wanting to play hard.”q

Dutch beat Swedes to set up Women’s World Cup final with U.S.

By ROB HARRIS After a draining semifinal, 64th minute when a head-
AP Global Soccer Writer the Dutch have one less er from Vivianne Miede-
LYON, France (AP) — The day than the Americans to ma was pushed onto the
Netherlands will play the prepare for the title game frame by Lindahl’s finger-
United States for the Wom- and they will have to be tips.
en’s World Cup title after more potent up front to But the goalkeepers
Jackie Groenen sealed a overcome the athletic U.S. wouldn’t be relied on for a
1-0 victory over Sweden in The second semifinal was penalty shootout.
extra time on Wednesday no match for the drama, Groenen, who in May be-
night. tension and high energy came the first overseas
A slick passing sequence of the previous night when signing for new English
ended in the 99th minute the U.S. beat England 2-1. Women’s Super League
with Groenen driving a The game featured few team Manchester United,
shot from outside the pen- Netherlands’ Jackie Groenen scores her side’s opening goal scoring chances and was produced a moment of
alty area past goalkeep- during the Women’s World Cup semifinal soccer match be- only lit up by the goal- brilliance in the first half of
er Hedvig Lindahl. It was tween the Netherlands and Sweden, at the Stade de Lyon out- keeping in regulation time extra time for her first goal
Groenen’s first goal of the side Lyon, France, Wednesday, July 3, 2019. — particularly in the sec- of the tournament.
tournament and it set up Associated Press ond half. The Swedes will have to
a meeting between the male coaches. With Jill Ellis women has been rapid. A shot from Nilla Fischer settle for bronze if they
European champions and coaching the U.S. and Sa- They only debuted at was creeping into the net can beat England on Sat-
the reigning world cham- rina Wiegman in charge of the World Cup in 2015 — in the 56th minute until urday in Nice. But the fo-
pions back in the Stade the Netherlands, the run reaching the round of Netherlands goalkeep- cus for now will be on the
de Lyon on Sunday. of three finals featuring a 16 — but followed it up er Sari van Veenendaal health of Kosovare Asl-
And it means that for the male coach comes to an by winning the European tipped it onto the post. lani, who was carried off
first time since 2003, the end. Championship on home It was the crossbar that on a stretcher late in the
final will include two fe- Progress for the Dutch soil in 2017. denied the Dutch in the game.q