“Sometimes You Need to Get Punched” – After Donald Trump’s Taunt at Megan Rapinoe, Ex-USMNT Icon Divulges on USWNT’s Shock World Cup Elimination

The USWNT failed to make it past Sweden in the R016 of the World Cup, losing 5-4 on penalties. The Megan Rapinoe-led side was marching toward a third consecutive title; a historic three-peat. However, this is the worst finish by a US women’s national team in the history of the tournament. What hurt fans more was the manner in which the team went down. Throughout the tournament, they seemingly lacked fluidity and conviction. This lukewarm outing invited wrath and criticism for Alex Morgan & Co from all corners of the world.

From Donald Trump to Bill Simmons, the USWNT is getting slammed mercilessly.  Former USMNT legend Heath Pearce, however, has proven to be a voice of reason in this wave of hate and has shared some words of constructive criticism.

Heath Pearce urges the USWNT to make structural changes

In the recent episode of the “In Soccer We Trust” podcast, USMNT icon Heath Pearce opined constructively on the shocking loss. The 38-year-old believed that a loss like this should be an eye-opener. He expressed that a crushing defeat like this should send the women’s national team into a mode of introspection and see where they can improve.

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“Sometimes you need to get punched in the face like that to realize, as a coaching staff, where you were wrong, as a developmental nation where you went wrong, as a tactical system, and how you’re going to compete with the rest of the world, where you went wrong, to be humbled,” said the former defender.

Pearce’s assessment is totally spot on as it aligns with the popular consensus of USWNT needing structural changes. Unfortunately, criticism like this feels like a fresh breath of air after Donald Trump’s politicly charged assessment of the performance.

Donald Trump cites “woke” path as the reason behind Megan Rapinoe & Co’s downfall

Following the exit of the USWNT from the World Cup, ex-US President Donald Trump promptly used the moment to attribute the defeat on Megan Rapinoe and the “woke” direction the country has taken under President Joe Biden.

On his social media platform “Truth Social”, Donald Trump went on a rant equating the team’s performance to the current ‘wokeness’. “The ‘shocking and totally unexpected’ loss by the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team to Sweden is fully emblematic of what is happening to our once great Nation under Crooked Joe Biden. Many of our players were openly hostile to America – No other country behaved in such a manner, or even close. WOKE EQUALS FAILURE. Nice shot Megan, the USA is going to Hell!!!” – wrote the ex-US President.

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Whose assessment do you believe in? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!