AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Megan Rapinoe watched from the bench Thursday as the U.S. women’s national soccer team labored to a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands. Five days earlier, she had been a second-half substitute in a World Cup opener against Vietnam that was decided by halftime.
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The star of World Cups and Olympics past, Rapinoe has accepted a secondary role at the final major tournament of her stellar career.
“I’m always shocked when I don’t play,” she said jokingly.