Axe Finally Falls on Women's World Cup Coach

U.S. Soccer looks to replace Ryan after Solo debacle
By Jesse Andrews,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 22, 2007 11:19 PM CDT
Axe Finally Falls on Women's World Cup Coach
United States women's national soccer team coach Greg Ryan answers questions during a press conference in this Sept. 28, 2007 file photo in Shanghai, China. Ryan is out as the U.S. women's soccer coach, The Associated Press learned Monday, Oct. 22, 2007, less than a month after his top-ranked team lost...   (Associated Press)

In a demonstration of the high expectations of the U.S. women's soccer team, coach Greg Ryan was fired after his team crashed out in the semifinals of last month's World Cup. Ryan sustained just two losses in two and a half years, but his questionable handling of the goalkeeper position helped foment an ugly defeat to Brazil.

Ryan benched starter Hope Solo for Briana Scurry, only to see the veteran shelled, 4-0. Said the president of American soccer, "Obviously the result of the game was not what Greg was looking for.” After Solo then vented her frustration, Ryan led the team in ostracizing her, a move which the president also chided. (More US women's soccer stories.)

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