The USA Women's National Football Team came into the FIFA 2023 World Cup as heavy favorites, but they are in a precarious position now after a draw with the Netherlands in Group E.
This setback made their upcoming Tuesday match against Portugal a must-win or risk the prospect of not making it to the next round as defending champions.
Megan Rapinoe said the team is aware of what's at stake in the next game, and they have been in the same situation before.
She believes there has always been pressure for them to deliver, which they always feed off as the last world winners.
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"We feel like we have to win everything all the time," she told reporters over the weekend.
"That's the expectation for ourselves. That's the expectation playing for the U.S. women's national team."
The USWNT is still at the top of the table with four points. However, a loss to Portugal would mean a crash to third place and elimination.
Portugal are just coming off a 2-0 victory against Vietnam.
Rapinoe thinks she could help after benching
The 38-year-old winger has been a central figure in the national team's success, but it is different this time as she was relegated as a substitute by manager Vlatko Andonovski.
The 1-1 draw hurt even more probably for her, as she was stuck on the bench despite feeling she could've affected the results if she had been on the pitch.
"I think I could have helped," Rapinoe said of the Netherlands game. "But I think Lynn [Williams] could have helped, and I think Trinity [Rodman] was helping, and I think [Sophia Smith] was helping, and we had chances. It was right there for us."
Related article: Netherlands Snap United States' Winning Streak in FIFA Women's World Cup
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