US Goalie Solo Calls Sweden "A Bunch of Cowards"
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- Hope Solo sure has a way with words.
The U.S. goalie called the Swedish team "a bunch of cowards" after they beat the favored U.S. women's soccer team 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw Friday at the Rio Olympics.
Solo says "I think we showed a lot of heart. We came back from a goal down. I'm very proud of this team." Then she added "I also think we played a bunch of cowards. The best team did not win today."
Solo said the Swedes "didn't want to pass the ball. They didn't want to play great soccer."
Sweden coach Pia Sundhage, who coached the U.S. team to Olympic gold medals in Beijing and London, quipped: "It's OK to be a coward if you win."
Later, Solo tweeted: "Losing sucks. I'm really bad at it."
The U.S. women are heading home without an Olympic medal for the first time.
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