The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is disappointed that United States goalkeeper Hope Solo branded opponents Sweden as cowards after they knocked her team out of the women’s soccer tournament, but will not take any disciplinary action. “To be able to compete at the level that we’ve worked toward, on the world’s biggest stage, the Olympic Games, is truly a blessing for us”. “Sometimes it’s just finding a way to win that matters most, and [Friday] Sweden found a way to beat us”.
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Solo says “I think we showed a lot of heart”.
Solo’s gripe was that Sweden – under the guidance of Pia Sundhage, who had coached the USA team through the 2012 Olympics – had sat back for much of the game, content to let the Americans push the action. “I think it was very cowardly”, added Solo.
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 railed against Sweden, marshalled by ex-USA coach Pia Sundhage, after Friday’s dramatic defeat on penalties ended the world champions’ bid for a fourth straight Olympic title.
“I don’t give a crap”, she told reporters.
The United States tied the score on a pass from Tobin Heath that struck a Swedish defender in the face and bounced to Alex Morgan, who drilled the ball home. They would not like to play extraordinary soccer. It was a combative game. “They look at their personnel and they determine a game plan based on that. We would not stop them expressing their opinion within boundaries”.
Sweden’s Lisa Dahlkvist was left waiting for a few minutes, but eventually dispatched her penalty to knockout the much fancied Americans.
For the first time in US women’s soccer team’s notable history, the team has failed to advance to the semifinals at an Olympics Games.
“Credit goes to Sweden, and quite frankly, Hope Solo needs to learn how to be a gracious loser”.
Sundhage knows the US team well, having coached the Americans for five years. We defended very well. Only Norway has been able to stop the USA string of golds, winning at the 2000 Sydney Games. Well, usually – especially with the Americans – a good team is when they’re winning. A game is won by playing better and making winning plays.
Stina Blackstenius put Sweden ahead after 61 minutes but the U.S equalized 16 minutes later through Morgan. During the 2007 World Cup, Solo was benched in favor of veteran Brianna Scurry even though Solo had goaltended three consecutive shutouts.
She’s the best goalkeeper in the world, so why wouldn’t you try to make her happy? But they couldn’t get into an offensive rhythm for the first 20 minutes against their northern neighbors.
China had Wang Shanshan sent-off early in the second-half and also missed the chance to send the game into extra-time when Wang Shuang hit the post with a penalty six minutes from time.
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“We had that style of play when Pia was our coach”, Solo expanded, per Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated. “So they’re going on, like I said, and we’re going home”.
