Hope Solo
Posted on 09/29/2007 11:57:48 PM PDT by L.A.Justice
Shanghai, China (Sports Network) - U.S. goalie Hope Solo, who criticized coach Greg Ryan and veteran teammate Brianna Scurry on Thursday, will not even be on the bench for Sunday's third-place match against Norway in the World Cup.
After the United States lost 4-0 to Brazil on Thursday - its worst loss ever - Solo said it was the "wrong decision" to bench her in favor of Scurry for the semifinal match.
She went on to criticize Scurry, who led the United States in the last three World Cups but didn't play in the first four games of this year's tournament.
Solo apologized to the team, but she didn't practice on Saturday and won't be at the game Sunday. Ryan said it was a decision he talked about with some of the team leaders.
"We have moved forward with 20 players who have stood by each other, who have battled for each other, and when the hard times came - and the Brazil game was a hard time - they stood strong," Ryan said. "Now it is the 20 that have stuck together that will be ready to go out and compete.
"It’s very hard for Hope right now. But she knows that trust is hard to gain, easy to break, and even more difficult to regain."
Scurry will start Sunday's match. She led the United States to 1999 title, and third place in 1995 and 2003.
Ryan praised Scurry on Saturday for accepting her role as a backup even though she is still one of the best goalie's in the world.
"It hasn't been easy for a player with pedigree - two Olympic gold medals, a World Cup championship - to take a back seat role. She’s done it like a pro." Ryan said.
U.S. captain Kristine Lilly, who is playing in her fifth World Cup, said the team wanted to move past all the distractions caused by Solo's outburst. She believed it was the right decision to leave her off the team.
"How we look at everything with our group is we do what's best for the team. And what is best for the team is the 20 of us right now," Lilly said. "I think the circumstance that happened and her going public has affected the whole group, and I think having her with us is still a distraction.
"If we want to put our best foot forward against Norway on Sunday, this is the best way the team goes about it."
But, Scurry as the goalkeeper again? She had her chance to shine in this World Cup...She didn't do well.
Coach Ryan should have given the chance to the third goalkeeper on the roster...It would be nice for her to get some experience. She did not play in this World Cup yet.
When a redneck texan hears the news of the goalie switch on sportcenter and spontaneously blurts, “huh?” ...well, there’s pretty much your sign this coach is a dumbass. Solo’s got some stones on her. You gotta kinda like that in a big hot blond chick.
If Lilly was such a leader, she would have told Ryan he was an idiot to replace Solo; before the Brazil match. Solo’s teammates should have come to her defense.
If this was true, Scurry would have been the starting goal keeper all along. The truth is, she was never that good and played with the best back line in the world during that time.
Before this flap I thought there was no sport that I could care less about than men’s soccer.
I stand corrected.
Yawn.
Hope Solo
Has anyone heard from her brother?
Napoleon's daughter or Han's?
First of all, it’s not only soccer, but women’s soccer, so who cares? A 3rd world sport with very limited popularity in America. But secondly, it’s great that the girl got hammered for her popping off. Typical example of some no-name athlete trying to create some publicity and significance for herself, knowing that the media usually carries their water and makes it happen. Back-fired here because the coach had some guts to respond.
...and most of the 20 fans of women's soccer in the United States were rumored to be "devastated."
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