Hope Solo calls Sweden ‘a bunch of cowards,’ slams former coach after USWNT loss

Sweden knocked the United States women’s national team out of the Olympics on Friday, and American goalkeeper Hope Solo isn’t thrilled about the way the Swedes played in the match.

Thanks to their loss on penalty kicks, the USWNT has exited the tournament earlier than they ever have before, failing to make the final for the first time. The Swedes -- led by former USWNT head coach Pia Sundhage -- played a defensive game, packing 10 players behind the ball and refusing to take serious risks on the counter-attack. They only registered one shot in regulation time, which they scored on. After the match, Solo called their style of play “cowardly” while taking a shot at Sundhage.

Solo’s implication that the U.S. also used to play a “cowardly” style for the five years Sundhage was in charge won’t sit well with many, given that her teams made a World Cup final and won two Olympic gold medals. It might not sit well with Solo after the implication is pointed out to her either.

Sundhage has a history of criticizing Solo as well. Last summer, Sundhage said that Solo was challenging to coach “especially when it comes to trouble,” and called the American goalkeeper “a piece of work.”