Game over and Olympics over for the Americans, who entered as heavy gold-medal favorites.
Advertisement
The U.S. goalkeeper criticized the Swedes for the way they played Friday in beating the Americans in a penalty shootout – a result that means the world’s top-ranked team will miss out on a medal in women’s soccer for the first time.
The outspoken Solo, rather than paying tribute to the gritty Swedish squad, denounced the winners as a “bunch of cowards”.
Solo ripped into the Swedes, saying they had played like “a bunch of cowards”. What’s more, I likewise think we played a pack of weaklings. I’m very proud of this team.
Both teams had goals called back late in extra time and the contest went to a penalty shootout, which started badly for the United States as Swedish keeper Hedvig Lindahl stopped a less-than-potent shot from Morgan. “I’m going to Rio”.
“They didn’t try to press”, she added.
Sweden’s Stina Blackstenius scored on a breakaway, firing a shot past Solo for a 1-0 lead in the 61th minute.
“They didn’t want to open play”. Lloyd and Sweden’s Schelin both had goals disallowed during the extra period, to set up the nail-biting finish from the penalty spot.
American women’s team goalkeeper Hope Solo Solo was also slammed by USA media for her comments.
Alex Morgan’s eyes were red from tears following a quarterfinal loss to Sweden, which won 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw on Friday. We returned from an objective down, I’m exceptionally glad for this group.
The media-savvy 35-year-old has a record of controversy and she was suspended from the U.S. team for 30 days over an incident during a training camp in January last year. Certainly. Did they have some divine right to win it for having played the more majestic soccer? No. They will next face host Brazil on Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro.
Tied after three rounds in the shootout of Friday’s match, Sweden captain Caroline Seger shot past Solo. “But, they won. They’re moving on”.
But there was no bigger upset – in a long time – than the USA loss to Sweden.
The U.S., who dominated large parts of the match, have won four of the last five Olympic golds and had never failed to reach the Games final.
The Sweden coach, Pia Sundhage, who led the U.S. to gold and the 2008 and 2012 Olympics was dismissive of Solo’s outburst. In an illuminating few moments about 600 miles apart Friday, the world saw America at its best and worst.
“They didn’t want to open play”, Solo said, according to Sports Illustrated.
The U.S. came out early with intent and in the 4th minute, they fired a warning signal, Carli Lloyd with a handsome pass that doesn’t quite reach the wings but comes out for a corner.
At Rio 2016, Team USA were knocked out of the Women’s Soccer tournament and their goalkeeper, Hope Solo, went a couple of steps further. “They don’t have as quality of players as the American team does or as Brazil does, so they have to play a way that’s going to give them hope to beat a team like Brazil or the US”.
Advertisement
Her sentiments that “The best team did not win today” were followed by a post on Twitter admitting, “Losing sucks”.
