For the first time in 20 years, the U.S. women’s soccer team is leaving the Olympics without a medal after losing to Sweden in Friday’s quarterfinal on penalty kicks after the game ended in a 1-1 tie.
While most of the team took the high road toward the exit, blaming themselves and crediting Sweden, goalkeeper Hope Solo took another route.
“We played a bunch of cowards,” she said. “The best team did not win today. I strongly, firmly believe that.”
So much for the Olympic spirit of fair play and sportsmanship.
Solo didn’t think it was very sporting or fair for the Swedes to spend much of the game with as many as nine players in front of their own net, less interested in scoring a goal than in preventing one.