After World Cup Dismissal, Hope to Fly Solo

The US women’s soccer team just suffered one of its worst World Cup losses, but all eyes are focused on the team’s outspoken player and embattled coach. Goalie Hope Solo was banished today after publicly criticizing the choice of veteran teammate Briana Scurry to replace her in the Brazil match. Solo has apologized, but one of her teammates still called her presence a “distraction.”

Coach Greg Ryan said an apology wasn’t enough, but the Solo brouhaha was enough to at least temporarily divert attention away from Ryan’s own troubles, the Tribune says. His initial decision to pull Solo from her post was almost universally slammed, and now, after the team’s devastating loss, the coach is fighting for his job. The team plays Norway tomorrow for third place. (More World Cup stories.)