Rapinoe reflects on 'amazing' World Cup and USA's 'must-win' match with Portugal

Megan Rapinoe spoke to the media as the countdown to the USA's big clash with Portugal on Tuesday continues

Transcript

00:00 I mean, it's just so good. All the games are amazing.

00:04 I think the best teams are playing well.

00:08 Teams that maybe people haven't been following are playing really well. The level is super high.

00:12 Players are scoring goals in exciting moments.

00:16 Scoring great goals. I think just in general

00:20 the level of football being played right now in the women's game

00:24 is incredible. I think all the players should feel

00:28 an immense sense of pride about the quality of the tournament

00:32 and about us backing up everything that we've said about ourselves.

00:36 Just in general, we've had to bet on ourselves so much.

00:40 We hit every time. I think ultimately, sometimes I think this gets lost,

00:44 but I get to play in another World Cup. I get to be in

00:48 another situation to compete for a championship. I think as an elite

00:52 athlete and as an elite

00:56 soccer player, that's the point. You don't want to play

01:00 in meaningless games. You don't want to just play in friendlies or

01:04 not compete for championships. I think for me, I'm excited.

01:08 You have a must-perform,

01:12 sort of must-win type of game. I'm sure we could tie it in all the scenarios. You guys know that.

01:16 It's a pressure moment, and that's what the tournament is now.

01:20 Every single game from here on out is that pressure moment, and that's the best part of

01:24 being at the World Cup.