in defeat, u.s. shows a new dimension

The 4-0 loss of the US team to Brazil in the semifinals of the Women's World Cup was an upset. It shows that the rest of the world is catching up to the US - not that the US team is getting worse. In a tournament with several strong teams, a trip to the final game is no longer guaranteed.

But one good thing has come out of the loss - the U.S. women have shown an ability to express themselves after the game in a manner befitting one of the top-notch European or South American men.

Specifically, first-team goalkeeper Hope Solo had some comments - Solo (what a great name, eh?) had been benched in favor of 36-year-old World Cup veteran Briana Scurry because coach Ryan thought Scurry's abilities might better match up against Brazil. Well, Scurry didn't have the best game of her career, and here is how Solo supported her coach and teammate to reporters after the game:

It was the wrong decision, and I think anybody that knows anything about the game knows that. There's no doubt in my mind I would have made those saves. . . . You have to live in the present. And you can't live by big names. You can't live in the past.

Ouch!