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.
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Solo told Sports Illustrated: “Things don’t always go the way you want them to”. “I thought we played a gallant diversion”. We had many opportunities on goal. “I think it was very cowardly”, Solo said. The 33-year-old national team veteran turned away six shots on goal before prevailing in the shootout.
Sundhage responded by saying: “It is okay to be (a) coward if you win”, while Swedish goalkeeper called Solo’s antics before the decisive penalty, where she attempted disruption by changing her gloves, an “act of panic”.
Solo, who endured crowd abuse and indifferent form in these Olympic games, was incensed at the manner of her team’s exit. “I strongly and firmly believe that”. I think you saw American heart. By the by, I am so pleased with the way we played today, our battle, our heart, and the aptitude we appeared. Foudy said on ESPN Friday. “I thought, why is that necessary”. They didn’t want to play great soccer, entertaining soccer.
Solo, who had already been taunted mercilessly by the Brazilian fans over social media posts about the Zika virus, caused another stir in the aftermath of the loss by criticizing Sweden’s defensive stand against the top-ranked Americans. However, Adams said Solo is “unlikely” to be censured by the committee. “It’s not cowardice, it’s discipline”. “They look at their personnel and they determine a game plan based on that. I am going to Rio, she’s going home”.
Hope Solo has had an interesting Olympics – to put it mildly. Lotta Schlein beat Solo to give Sweden the 1-0 lead.
Moore scored 12 points, and the Americans clinched the top seed in the group with an 81-51 win over Canada. Yet after 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of overtime, all they could show for their efforts was a 1-1 tie. The wastefulness by the U.S. finally caught up to them as Sweden stunned everyone in the stadium by taking the lead. We won the game. “They didn’t want to pass the ball. We defended very well”, Sundhage said. “And the fact that there were only two goals and it went to penalty kicks said something about our defending”.
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. “And at the end of the day we won the game and that’s what all counts”.
“It’s okay to be a coward if you win”, she added.
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Sundhage coached the USWNT from 2008 to 2012. And after winning three Olympic gold medals, a World Cup title and setting all-time records for appearances (202), wins (153) and shutouts (102), there would appear to be little reason for her to stick around until 2019.
