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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>World Cup winner retired in 2023</li><li>Now watching on from afar</li><li>Aware of lofty expectations</li></ul>

'We have a different standard for women' - Megan Rapinoe warns USWNT will be 'torn apart' if they don't achieve 'perfection' as she weighs in on Olympics gold medal bid under Emma Hayes

Friendlies

England

The legendary two-time World Cup winner stepped out of the international spotlight on the back of a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/like-fck-megan-rapinoe-shaken-terrible-world-cup-exit-scare-usmnt-saved-woodwork-portugal/bltb1d644dcf6bcef1e" target="_blank">failed bid for another global crown in 2023</a>. Rapinoe is, at 39 years of age, now retired completely and focused on matters away from the field.

WHAT HAPPENED?

She is, however, keeping a close eye on how <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/want-gold-medal-uswnt-ultimate-olympic-games-target-captain-lindsey-horan-emma-hayes-paris/blt4bc006d4028a648f" target="_blank">the United States’ class of 2024</a> are getting on – with former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes now calling the shots there. A star-studded squad is readying itself for a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/sophia-smith-uswnt-olympics/bltb339db6db3a66ff7" target="_blank">gold medal bid at the Olympic Games in Paris.</a>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The U.S. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/olympic-paris-2024-womens-football-power-rankings/blt04a01ffdcb8324f7" target="_blank">will be one of the favourites</a> heading into that competition, despite slipping to fifth in the world rankings, and Rapinoe – who won 203 caps for her country – has told <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/andyfrye/2024/07/18/megan-rapinoe-encourages-women-sport-your-period/ " target="_blank">Forbes</a> of the pressure that Hayes’ side will be under: “I think any woman who’s elite in her profession will get torn apart by critics. We have a different standard for women. The expectation is perfection.”

WHAT RAPINOE SAID

Rapinoe went on to say of facing those challenges head on, with success of the past setting a high bar for the USWNT: “You don’t always succeed, but that’s what we love about sports. And looking forward to the Olympics, everyone is excited, there’s a new team and there is an opportunity of this new group of players to make their mark.”

DID YOU KNOW?

The USWNT will kick off their quest for Olympic glory when facing Zambia on July 25, with further outings against Germany and Australia to come in Group B. They <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/uswnts-olympics-record-how-many-gold-medals-has-the-us-womens-soccer-team-won/1hwncb955vs9l1q88ck7byl3vw" target="_blank">last claimed gold at the London Games in 2012</a>.

WHAT NEXT?

'We have a different standard for women' - Megan Rapinoe warns USWNT will be 'torn apart' if they don't achieve 'perfection' as she weighs in on Olympics gold medal bid under Emma Hayes | Goal.com

Megan Rapinoe says the “expectation is perfection” when it comes to elite women’s sport, with the USWNT sent a pre-Olympics “torn apart” warning.

&apos;We have a different standard for women&apos; - Megan Rapinoe warns USWNT will be &apos;torn apart&apos; if they don&apos;t achieve &apos;perfection&apos; as she weighs in on Olympics gold medal bid under Emma Hayes