Megan Rapinoe was out of the US's starting lineup for the Women's World Cup semifinal, and the team would not say why

• Megan Rapinoe will not start for the US in the semifinal match against England at the Women’s World Cup.
• Some believe Rapinoe’s absence from the lineup is because of an injury, while others believe it is a tactical decision.
• At halftime, reports came out that Rapinoe was out of the lineup dealing with a hamstring injury, but American manager Jill Ellis still would not comment.
• Follow all of our Women’s World Cup coverage here.
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When the US faces off against England in the Women’s World Cup semifinal on Tuesday, one player will be surprisingly absent from the Americans’ starting lineup: Megan Rapinoe.

After netting four goals in the team’s previous two games and capturing the hearts of American soccer fans in the process, Rapinoe was shockingly left off of the US’s lineup card for the semifinal.

Fans were quick to question the decision, as Rapinoe has easily been the most dominant player on the team thus far in the tournament. Making the matter more perplexing was that Rapinoe was not even warming up with the team.

To some, Rapinoe’s lack of warm-up seemed to indicate an injury. If she was out of the starting lineup but planning to come in as a substitute later in the game, she would still have been out on the field before the game.

ESPN’s Julie Foudy said that Rapinoe had tape on her right leg on Monday, further indicating a possible injury.

But there were others who believed the decision was a tactical one made by the American manager Jill Ellis. SB Nation’s Kim McCauley wrote that while Rapinoe is as talented an offensive weapon as the Americans have, she could be seen as a defensive liability, especially against the specific challenges that England present.

But the most perplexing aspect of the entire ordeal was the fact that a clear explanation wasn’t given for Rapinoe’s absence. According to Kevin Baxter at the Los Angeles Times, a team spokesman said he couldn’t disclose the reason for Rapinoe’s benching — a departure from what had been the norm with lineup changes earlier in the tournament.

The mystery remained through the first half of the match, until news finally came out that Rapinoe was out due to a hamstring injury.

That said, when asked about Rapinoe’s injury at halftime, Ellis once again gave no comment, per the FOX broadcast of the match.

Rapinoe has carried the US through its first two matches of the knockout round. If things go awry for the Americans against England, fans will be demanding answers.

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