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Hope Solo Embarrasses Herself, National Team With Classless Post-Game Comments

David Rosenthal, CBS Los Angeles 

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — American goalkeeper Hope Solo's post-game comments were a bigger disappointment than the U.S. National Team being ousted in the quarterfinals, their worst performance since women's soccer became an Olympic sport in 1996.

After losing to Sweden in penalty kicks, Solo made some atrocious and out of line comments that should embarrass Americans across the country.

"I think we played a bunch of cowards," Solo said after the game.

"The best team did not win today. They didn't want to open play. They didn't want to pass the ball. They didn't want to play great soccer. ... I don't think they're going to make it far in the tournament. I think it was very cowardly," she added.

(Read her full comments here) 

Take the loss with some dignity, Hope.

You lost. Sweden won.

Don't sit here and complain about the tactics Sweden used when the U.S. used the exact same strategy in their last match during the group stage against Colombia.

Solo tried to diminish Sweden's incredible victory over the U.S. and instead just embarrassed herself, the entire U.S. women's national team, and in my opinion, Americans across the country.

Perhaps rattled by the Rio fans consistently heckling her with "Zika" chants , Solo was visibly shaken throughout the games.

Both of the goals she allowed in the previous game against Colombia should have been saved, and Solo was far from at the top of her game.

Here's the bottom line, Hope: When it came down to it in penalties, you got outplayed.

The Swedish goalkeeper saved two of the five American shots (one skyrocketing over the net), while you could only save one of the five attempts from the Swedish.

Was there some questionable refereeing? Sure.

But was the U.S. the better team? Absolutely not.

Sometimes, the rest of the world can beat our seemingly invincible American teams. This does not mean our athletes should sacrifice their respect and dignity to justify those losses.

Solo should apologize to the Swedish National Team, her teammates and to every American.

And, no, this does not count an apology:

Some example you're setting for all the young girls out there, Hope.

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