Megan Rapinoe lamented ending her last World Cup with a missed penalty as the United States women's national team was eliminated in the round of 16 for the first time in their history.
Rapinoe was one of three US players who missed their penalties in a shootout that Sweden won 5-4 after the match ended in a goalless draw in regulation time and extra time.
When asked what she was thinking when she stepped up to take her penalty, Rapinoe said, "I'm going to score. Into the back of the net. Always."
And what was going through her mind after missing?
Terminó el mundial para Estados Unidos que fue eliminada en penales por Suecia
El partido terminó sin goles luego de 120 minutos. Es la primera vez que las estadounidenses son eliminadas en octavos de final
"A cruel joke," Rapinoe said. "That's why I had that smile on my face. Like, 'You've got to be kidding me. Am I going to miss the penalty?' Honestly, I can't remember the last time I missed a penalty. It's been a long time since I missed one in a game."
"But that's just how it goes. I definitely have thought about it before, it's always a possibility when you step up. But I thought I'd make it. I thought we'd all make it."
Rapinoe correctly recalled her last missed penalty for club or country came in 2018 when goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury saved her in the NWSL.
Prior to the start of the World Cup, Rapinoe announced she would retire at the end of the 2023 NWSL season, making this summer's tournament in Australia and New Zealand her last World Cup.
Rapinoe made her debut for the US national team in 2006 and was part of the winning teams at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups.
"I feel very fortunate and grateful to have played for so long and been on so many successful teams as I have, and to be part of a very special generation that has done so much both on and off the field," Rapinoe said. "It would be hard to feel disappointed in any way.
"Obviously, there's the immediate disappointment of being out of the tournament, but I'm okay. I'm ready in a lot of ways to be done and I feel at peace with that."
Rapinoe became emotional to tears when asked to reflect on her World Cup journey.
"I've loved every part of my career," she said. "I will miss it to death, but it also feels like the right time and that's okay."
"It's a bit of dark humor, missing the penalty at the end of this game," she added, laughing.