‘I hope they lose’: Veteran presenter launches scathing attack on Team USA

A veteran American television presenter has given Team USA both barrels and singled out one star for “poisoning” the entire squad.

Rapinoe labelled “poison” among the team. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Megyn Kelly called the US women’s soccer team “morons” for their lack of patriotism during the Women’s World Cup and said fading star Megan Rapinoe has “poisoned” the squad.

The two-time defending champs have generated more controversy than goals at the tournament after many of the starters were seen standing silently and stoically during the national anthem, the NY Post reports.

Rapinoe, 38, who helped guide the team to victory four years ago, has been coming off the bench as a sub during the current tournament, which kicked off last week in Australia and New Zealand.

Despite the diminished role, the blue-haired Rapinoe maintains an outsize influence over the younger players, Kelly said.

“Megan Rapinoe, she’s the leader of all this,” Kelly told listeners of her SiriusXM podcast ‘The Megyn Kelly Show’.

“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.”

Rapinoe labelled “poison” among the team. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Rapinoe has generated controversy for past statements in support of Black Lives Matter, has previously knelt during the national anthem in solidarity with former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and has been a proponent of allowing transgender people to compete alongside those who are not of the same biological sex.

“She’s poisoned the entire team against the country for which they play,” Kelly said.

“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.”

The Post has sought comment from Rapinoe and the US women’s soccer team.

Kelly also took players to task for “celebrating out there like they’ve just won the whole thing” after the team barely avoided elimination in the group stage with a scoreless draw against underdog Portugal on Tuesday.

The US only advanced after a shot by a Portuguese forward hit the post in the dying seconds of the match.

Team USA just got it done. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Fox Sports studio analyst Carli Lloyd lit into the Americans after the match for yukking it up with fans, dancing and smiling.

Kelly echoed the criticism heaped on the team by the retired USWNT star.

“They’re making fools of themselves,” Kelly said.

“They won’t sing the national anthem, half of them won’t put their hands over their hearts, even the ones who are singing are half-assing it,” Kelly said.

“They clearly don’t want to be doing it. I mean, they look like they don’t even want to be there.”

Kelly added: “It’s like some sort of inconvenience to be representing the USA.”

The US will face Sweden, one of the tournament’s strongest teams, in the knockout round at 7pm (AEST) on Sunday.

This article originally appeared on the NY Post and was reproduced with permission.