“Credit goes to Sweden, and quite frankly, Hope Solo needs to learn how to be a gracious loser”.
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As Sweden celebrated, USA captain Carli Lloyd crouched on the field at Mane Garrincha Stadium in disbelief. We showed a lot of heart.
She is one of the most recognizable faces of this U.S. team, which is the reigning World Cup champion and had won gold the previous three Olympic tournaments. And I also think we played a bunch of cowards.
Singapore has spent millions trying to win more medals at the Olympics, including offering a Foreign Sports Talent programme which grants promising foreign athletes citizenship, as well as a S$1 million ($743,494.42) prize for gold medals. But I also think we played a bunch of cowards. “You saw us give everything we had today”.
“I didn’t want to be the focus of attention in that way”, said Marta. But they won, they’re moving on.
Sweden are coached by Pia Sundhage who led the U.S. to victory in London 2012. “We’re going to Rio, and she’s going home”.
Solo takes a goal kick in the defeat.
There was widespread criticism of Solo on social media following her comments.
That prompted the United States of America goalkeeper being provoked with cries of “Zika” at each goalkick by Brazilian fans amid the World Cup.
The crowd at Mane Garrincha Stadium was sparse but continued to jeer Solo every time she touched the ball. She then made two blunders as the United States attracted with Colombia their last gathering round of the competition.
During that shootout, Solo held up proceedings at a crucial stage for a glove change that only managed to piss off the crowd and get no-one on her side.
Solo managed to make a save on Linda Sembrant on Sweden’s third try to even the shootout, but her one save wasn’t enough. Morgan tied it when she converted from in front in the 76th minute.
The Swedes stymied the powerful American attack and advanced to the women’s soccer semifinals at the Olympics, leaving the US team empty-handed and with their earliest exit from a major tournament. Wearing a denim shirt with a faded American flag on the back, and carrying an American flag in her left arm, Sharron Manuel beamed her way through her first news conference while her daughter was still competing. It was not to be. Marta scored twice in that game, but more defensive tactics could be coming from Sweden.
“Sweden dropped back”, she said.
The U.S. came out early with intent and in the 4th minute, they fired a warning signal, Carli Lloyd with a lovely pass that doesn’t quite reach the wings but comes out for a corner. They didn’t want to open the game. It was a combative game. A physical game. Exactly what they wanted. Exactly what their game plan was. “I think it was very cowardly”, added Solo.
“And they’re winning all the time”. But for once they didn’t go the whole way through. “The U.S. played better in the attack, we played better in the defense”. We defend very well. “And the fact that there were only two goals and it went to penalty kicks said something about our defending”. Here is the gist of what irked the US keeper.
Stina Blackstenius put Sweden ahead on Friday after 61 minutes but the United States equalised 16 minutes later through Alex Morgan.
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From there came overtime, when Carli Lloyd headed the ball past Swedish goalie Hedvig Lindahl in the 115th minute. Solo made a great diving save on Linda Sembrant’s shot, but then Christen Press knocked the fifth US kick over the crossbar.
