Hope Solo, who is not retiring, said Sweden’s captain told her she didn’t need to apologize for her comments calling the Swedes “a bunch of cowards” following the U.S.’ quarterfinal loss at the Rio Olympics.
Solo, a 35-year-old suspended until February by U.S. Soccer, said she spoke to Swedish captain Lotta Schelin shortly after the Aug. 12 match that ended in penalty kicks. Solo and Schelin were once club teammates for a Swedish league team in 2004.
“I said to her, ‘You know, Lotta, I said something. I used the word ‘cowards’ when talking about you guys, and I didn’t mean that.