Don't get me wrong... I have the utmost respect for Brianna Scurry. As a fellow UMASS Alum, I was proud to see her make those saves in the world cup Penalty Kick shootout (more famously remembered for Brandi Chastain's shirt removal...but without Scurry, Chastain doesn't have the chance to be the hero/cover girl of Sports Illustrated).
But last year in the Women's World Cup, Scurry got the nod over Hope Solo. The micro-drama that followed has been well documented - but to sum up, Solo criticized her coach Greg Ryan, and was then accused of throwing her teammate under the bus, benched, and openly criticized for her words by her coach and various soccer pundits. The US lost to Brazil but won third place. Solo wasn't allowed on the bench.
At the time I fully backed Solo for speaking her mind, and I agreed with her that it was the wrong decision to go with Scurry. Solo had been playing lights out keeper, and had that back line wired for defense. For Ryan to switch so suddenly to a keeper who had not played in the tournament at all up to that point, Scurry must have shown something to Ryan that was only visible to him, as it left Solo scratching her head. It was indeed a curious move, and in the end, the wrong move, and one that ultimately cost Ryan his job.
Ryan was fired after the WWC, and replaced by Pia Sundhage, who promptly put Solo back in the starting line-up. Now, as the WNT (winners of the 2007 Peace Queen Cup) Solo has the opportunity to do what she should have been able to do last year.
Bring home the winner's medal. Bring home the gold.
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