Rio 2016: Solo calls Sweden ´cowards´ after USA defeat

Throughout her long and occasionally controversial career with the United States women s soccer team, Hope Solo has developed a reputation for not holding back with her opinions.

Whether discussing coaching decisions or Zika, sharing her forthright views has often put Solo in the crosshairs of public opinion, and she added another talking point for her detractors on Friday after the USA suffered a shock loss to Sweden at Rio 2016.

In the aftermath of the defending champions quarter-final penalty shootout loss, Solo said she believed the best team had failed to win and that Sweden played like cowards .

We came back from a goal down. I m very proud of this team, she said. But I also think we played a bunch of cowards. The best team did not win today. I strongly…