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Rio Olympics 2016: Hope Solo calls Sweden ‘cowards’ after U.S. defeat

It’s smart and, actually, brave, because you’ll have to endure comments like this from the spoiled, take-victory-for-granted brats like Hope Solo if it actually works. It’s easy to play the little kid int he playground, who gets condescendingly patted on the head and sent away once it succumbs to its inventible loss.

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“I think we played a bunch of cowards”, Solo said after the game. “I think it was very cowardly, but they won”. “I strongly and firmly believe that”.

Sundhage insisted she had full faith the Swedes could pull off a massive upset despite scoring just twice in three matches as they sneaked into the last eight as one of the two best third-placed sides from the group stages. “They’re moving on, and we’re going home”, Solo said.

From alleged domestic violence to coarse language, Solo has been in hot water before.

The Swedes beat the US 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the quarterfinals.

Lisa Dahlkvist converted Sweden’s final penalty after Alex Morgan and Christen Press missed for the holders in the shootout.

Coached by Pia Sundhage, former head of the United States women’s squad, the Swedes hung back for most of the game, playing to their strengths and waiting for a moment to strike. I think you saw American heart. I’m very proud of this team. Then the gloves jokes happened, and we’re so glad they did..

Solo lets one through in Friday’s penalty shootout.

Solo’s remarks were criticized as poor sportsmanship by Julie Foudy, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women’s World Cup victor. The USA has been particularly dominant in the Olympics, winning the gold medal in 1996, when women’s soccer was first included, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Don’t sit here and complain about the tactics Sweden used when the US used the exact same strategy in their last match during the group stage against Colombia. A week before the startling loss, the two time Olympic gold medalist defended her comments, and said she was “focused” on winning.

The soccer star was vocal about her concerns over traveling to Rio due to the Zika virus.

There’s also a long history and tradition of the US national team giving Solo second, third, and eighth chances on account of her tremendous talent in the net.

For the first time ever, the USA women’s soccer team has failed to make the semifinals of a major tournament.

In response, Sweden coach Pia Sundhage said: “It’s OK to be a coward if you win”.

Hope Solo is a distraction U.S. Soccer can no longer afford.

While this one loss doesn’t indicate that the US women’s soccer program is on a downward trajectory, Solo’s latest comments could change the goalkeeper’s employment status. “But that’s good as well”. Things happen around her. There was also a time not too long ago when she was almost as valuable to her national team as the Portuguese superstar is to his.

Solo has been entangled in controversy before. Brazilian fans taunted her with chants of “Zika” throughout the tournament. She later added, “Losing sucks”.

It’d be nice if the Americans could find a keeper who could stop shots gracefully and, on the hopefully rare occasions that she did not, lose graciously. “I’m really bad at it”.

Bronze medallists in 2012 when they lost a thrilling semi-final to the United States of America 4-3 in extra-time, Canada have another chance to reach the Olympic final for the first time as Schmidt volleyed home 11 minutes into the second-half from Janine Beckie’s inch-perfect cross.

So, is Solo a sore loser?

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The reigning World Cup champions, who are also four-time Olympic champions, had not dropped a match this year.

Eugenio Savio  AP