The crowd watching the soccer game between United States of America and New Zealand at the Rio Olympics seemed to hate Hope Solo just like she hated Zika.
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If Solo makes Saturday’s scheduled start against France in group play, it will be her 200th cap in worldwide play. “And I as I closed her – some people think she went through my legs on objective because it was the only part that was open because I had her closed down – I don’t really think so, I think she just tried to crack a shot”, Solo said.
The U.S. women’s soccer team beat New Zealand to open the Olympics on Wednesday. After arriving in Brazil, she blamed the USA media for being “really tough” on the people of Brazil, then tried to praise them as nice, genuine and warm people. In a unusual interview with the Associated Press on Monday, Solo blamed the media for spreading fear about the virus, saying it was “unfortunate” that they were being so tough but it’s par for the course with the Olympics.
United States goalkeeper Hope Solo holds the ball during a women’s Olympic football tournament match against New Zealand at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 3.
More recently, she’s called for better conditions for players in the National Women’s Soccer League.
With the Rio de Janeiro Olympics set to open, anxious International Olympic Committee members grilled top organizing officials about traffic jams, water pollution, security, and the absence of signage that gives the games its own distinct look. With time running out on both, Solo opted to go to Brazil with precautions. “It was a decision that I had to make alongside my husband”.
She also doesn’t have the best reputation overall, having been accused of attacking her half-sister and nephew in June of 2014. The Olympic tournament is the first major competition for the USA since the retirement of key players such as Abby Wambach and Lauren Holiday following last year’s world title in Canada. If you go through the essay you would nearly think that Solo was playing soccer in a third-world country, and yet she’s on American soil! “Get your own! #Zikaproof #Road to Rio” on her Twitter account.
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“Of course I want to go to the Olympics. I’m okay with that”, she told the press.
