In postgame comments, United States goalkeeper Hope Solo was sharp and candid in her assessment of Sweden’s tactical strategy after the Swedes defeated the U.S. in penalty kicks to advance to the semifinals of the women’s Olympic soccer tournament on Friday in Brasilia, Brazil.
In her comments to reporters, Solo said: “I’m very proud of this team. But I also think we played a bunch of cowards.” Sports Illustrated‘s Grant Wahl provides the full quote below:
Full Hope Solo quote on Sweden after US was eliminated from the Olympics today. pic.twitter.com/UZVCAeur6m
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) August 12, 2016
In a follow-up tweet, Solo said, “Losing sucks. I’m really bad at it.”
This was the full context of my comments today. Thank you @GrantWahl. Losing sucks. I’m really bad at it. https://t.co/s5Mckg8o6B
— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) August 12, 2016
Sweden’s head coach, Pia Sundhage, for her part responded by saying, “I don’t give a crap. I’m going to Rio, she’s going home.”
Sundhage is no stranger to Solo or the U.S. Women’s National Team after coaching both to a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics.
Update
In a statement to Wahl, U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said Solo’s comments were “highly inappropriate.”
I asked US Soccer president Sunil Gulati about his views on Hope Solo’s postgame comments. He said this: pic.twitter.com/HKKf0albzY
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) August 13, 2016