“I thought that we played a courageous game”, Solo reportedly said. Afterward, Solo called the Swedes “cowards”.
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“I think we showed a lot of heart”.
Solo’s comments, far from her first controversial moment on the US national team, immediately sent shockwaves through the Twitterverse. “The best team did not win today”, she told the sports magazine, later confirming in a Tweet that she had made the comments after the match in Brasilia. They didn’t want to pass the ball. “I’m going to Rio; she’s going home”.
From start to finish, the entire quarterfinal game was a close, tough match.
Sundhage, who coached the USA national team from 2008-2012 during which time the women won two gold medals, quickly fired back at her former ‘keeper.
So Sundhage, a Swede, knew how to approach the talented American squad, which still has numerous same players from four years ago, including Solo.
Sweden progressed to their first ever Olympics semi-final 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Brasilia as Sweden coach Pia Sundhage ousted the USA team she led to gold in 2008 and 2012.
Stina Blackstenius put Sweden ahead on Friday after 61 minutes but the United States equalised 16 minutes later through Alex Morgan.
So the Americans are out, heading home for the first time without a medal since women’s soccer became an Olympic sport in 1996.
Germany also booked their place in the last four on Friday with a hard-fought 1-0 win over 10-man China in Salvador.
Solo’s Games has been dogged by controversy as she received chants of “Zika” from fans across Brazil.
The Americans won their first two games, but tied Colombia, 2-2, when Solo gave up a goal on a shot she would stop, more often than not.
Sweden will now face either hosts Brazil, who thrashed them 5-1 in the group stages, or Australia in Tuesday’s semi-final in Rio.
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One person who wasn’t bothered by Solo’s remarks was Sundhage, the Swedish coach. “We defended very well”.
