Megyn Kelly claimed Tuesday that Megan Rapinoe has 'poisoned' the US women's national team, with the host saying she will root for the team of 'morons' to lose in the Round of 16.
The USA narrowly advanced to the next round with a 0-0 draw against Portugal, and the majority of the starters once again did not sing the national anthem before the match.
And while Rapinoe was not even included in the first 11, Kelly believes that the 38-year-old is responsible for the culture of the group.
'Megan Rapinoe, she's the leader of all this... She's not a starter. So that's why she's not on camera when they're doing the national anthem, but she's behind a lot of this,' Kelly said while hosting the Megyn Kelly Show.
'She's poisoned the entire team against the country for which they play. I don't know about you, but I'm not rooting for them. I'm not with them. I hope they lose…It's shameful. These girls are shameful. They ought to be ashamed of themselves.'
Megyn Kelly thinks Megan Rapinoe has 'poisoned' the US women's national team
Rapinoe did not even start as the Americans narrowly earned a draw against Portugal
But her teammates in the starting lineup largely didn't sing the national anthem again
Though Rapinoe - who entered the Portugal draw in the 61st minute - did not start the match, she's been on the forefront of social activism when it comes to the USA women's national team.
She has been a loud voice for LGBTQ+ rights, and also joined then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in kneeling during the national anthem in 2016. Kaepernick was protesting against police brutality.
After similarly silent displays against Vietnam and the Netherlands, just three American players - Alex Morgan, Julie Ertz and Lindsey Horan - could be seen singing the 'Star Spangled Banner' before the Portugal game.
And Kelly was not happy with that display in New Zealand.
'They won't put their hands on their hearts,' she said. 'They don't feel prideful when they're out there even though they're representing the United States of America. Yes, we've got some flaws. Yes, there have been some warts, but we’re so much more good than we are bad.
'I mean, they look like they don't even want to be there. It's like some sort of inconvenience to be representing the USA.'
After the game, the team was full of smiles despite its underwhelming performance.
Portugal's Ana Capeta nearly sent the USA home with a stoppage time winner, as she smashed her shot off of the post.
Rapinoe entered the match in the 61st minute with the game tied at 0-0 in New Zealand
Many of her team-mates, however, again chose not to sing the national anthem beforehand
Nonetheless, Alex Morgan and Trinity Rodman could be seen posing for pictures with fans afterwards as the squad was happy to advance to the next round.
'These morons on the women's soccer team continue to embarrass us on the national stage,' Kelly said.
'They got to a 0-0 tie with Portugal. They've only scored four goals in three games. It's the first time ever, that the women's team does not have at least two win at this stage of the competition. And yet they're celebrating out there like they've just won the whole thing.'
After finishing as runners-up in Group E, the USA will play the Group G winner (likely Sweden) on Sunday.
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