US Women's Soccer wins third, goalkeeper Solo loses

[riverdeep]

So the US women's team got the third place game today, 4-1. For those who haven't been following much, their goalkeeper Hope Solo was banished from the game because of comments she made after being benched in their last game against Brazil, where they got drubbed. Team leaders and the coach decided she shouldn't have anything to do with this game at all, including attending the ceremony.

Even though she gave up a professional career abroad to join the US in a residency program, and has led the way to a 50 game unbeaten streak, and was at 300 some minutes in this Women's World Cup without giving up a goal. IOW, an integral part of this team. She apologized publicly on her MySpace and privately in a team meeting as well. But, it wasn't good enough.

"The U.S. players are taking this Hope Solo business seriously. None of her teammates seemed sure if she'd be flying home on the team plane, and none of them seemed to care too much. She's definitely persona non grata, and it's going to take a lot of work for her to regain her teammates' trust."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/mark_bechtel/09/30/final.thoughts/index.html

Seriously, this is like something out of a mean girls sorority, "we're not talking to you, you know what you did!"

[YellowRubberDuckie]

1. She got red carded and flipped her lid.

Her behavior was immature and babyish. I feel they are handling this appropriately. People need to realize when you run your mouth and act like an idiot, just because you apologize doesn't make it go away. The only reason she apologized is because she knew she wasn't going to get to play or even be involved.
When I saw her comments after her being tossed from the game, I was like what an immature, self-involved spoiled brat. I'm really surprised that these women from the US are actually making her face the music for being a hot headed brat, and I applaud them.
Duckie

[riverdeep]

3. She got red-carded?

Red cards are handed out by referees during the course of a game. Hope was benched by her coach because he felt Scurry was a better match-up against Brazil. I can't overstress how unusual this move was. Everyone told him it was a bad move, and he did it anyway. We'll never know if the US would have gotten beaten regardless, but we do know he made a grievous error.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

5. Sorry, it was yellow.

And it was because of her attitude. People in the world cup are held to a higher standard because they are like ambassadors for their countries. It's a huge deal.
But apparently winning was all that was important, I guess? Not making sure the players are behaving appropriately? :eyes:
Duckie

[riverdeep]

6. Can you please direct me to a source that says she was carded? Red or yellow? Thanks. N/T

[LostinVA]

10. There is no link because she wasn't carded

Solo was right, the coach was wrong and a jerk.

[redqueen]

15. I was gonna say.... carded? When? She didn't even play...

I'm with you... the coach should be fired for that idiotic decision.

[jakefrep]

18. How in the hell could she get carded if she didn't play?

[jakefrep]

7. Hope Solo was right.

And I'm glad she teed off on her coach publicly. That stupid punk Ryan deserved EVERY bit of the criticism directed at him.

[LostinVA]

11. Agreed

[MadMaddie]

12. I agree with you...What is it about coaches that have a winning

formula and then they get to the championchip level and then decide to change something new. Scurry had not played for a while...they had a great goalie and he deceides to put Scurry in....bad move. How many times have you seen college and pro teams do the same thing.

She was right.

[LostinVA]

9. She wasn't redcarded at all

[riverdeep]

2. To be fair, not all of her teammates were stand-offish

"We know how great a goalkeeper Hope is. She proved it during this World Cup. She’s a good friend of mine and I hope that she will be able to do it. It takes time. It takes a lot of time for a lot of us, and we’re working it out. She apologized to us and I’ve forgiven her and I think all of us have forgiven her and we’re going to let her give it a try. We want her to come back and we want her to play because she loves the game.”

-Cat Whitehill after the game

And while I was looking there, I saw this chilling statement:

"On if she plans to continue playing next year:
'Oh, absolutely. That has always been my goal since the last couple of years is to play a World Cup, play the Olympic Games because I feel like I can still contribute to this team and help this team win, and I have every intention of remaining on this team.' "

-Briana Scurry (replacement goalkeeper) after game

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_2719744.html

I don't know if meant starting or not, but if starting-the woman's 36. How about making way for new generation?

[BuddhaGirl]

4. Hope's statement was harsh and I don't think

that she should have made them in public.

IMHO Greg Ryan should be fired. He fucked up. I think he demoralized the team by replacing Hope - she had played so well in round one and the quarterfinals. There was no reason to play Briana Scurry in that game!

[petronius]

8. They excluded her from the medal ceremony!?

That is seriously wrong - not letting her dress for the last game is one thing, but pretending she had nothing to do with getting them there is at least as unsporting as anything she said.

Personally, I don't think she should have been dropped from the team; she was playing great when she was benched and she deserved to let of some steam. Don't you want players who feel like they should always be starting? I'd call that confidence...

It makes me wonder if there isn't something else - some deeper tensions within the team that aren't being reported.

[Orrex]

13. It was better when she shot Greedo first

And I hear she'll make point-five past light speed.

[Orrex]

14. Wow--another thread killed dead

Note to self: Don't post on weekends.

[IndianaJones]

16. She shouldn't play for the U.S. team and should not be involved in the ceremony. nt.

[NewJeffCT]

17. The coach was an idiot to pull her, but Solo should have held her tongue

In most team sports, its usually not considered a good thing to criticize a teammate or coach in public.