Shanghai, China (My Sportsbook) - Hope Solo's comments will define the United States' 2007 World Cup effort forever, but it's that one loss that will take the Americans years to overcome.
Like it or not, Solo's outburst after the 4-0 semifinal loss to Brazil - the worst loss in the United States' history - drew attention to the team. However you look at the situation, at least it put the team in the spotlight.
Did U.S. coach Greg Ryan make the "wrong decision," as Solo said? Sure he did. But all his switch of goalies did, coupled with Solo's outburst, was take the attention off the loss.
A loss that will hurt the Americans much more than Solo's comments.
The United States was ranked No. 1 in the world, and was the obvious favorite to win the Cup and finally recapture the attention of fans in the United States.
It wasn't long ago when Brandi Chastain ripped off her jersey to celebrate winning the 1999 World Cup in the U.S. as the team reached its highest level of popularity.
Trying to return to that stage this year wasn't going to be easy. It didn't help that the tournament was in China, and games were played at 5 and 8 a.m. (ET) in the United States.
Had the United States won, it wouldn't have mattered what time the games began. But starting with the "Group of Death," the U.S. didn't play its best soccer until the final match of the tournament.
And third place just doesn't carry the luster of a World Cup title.
"Each game was so under the gun," Ryan said. "It was hard for the players to just completely relax and play the kind of soccer that they love, because each match became an elimination game for us."
When the United States finally displayed the game it's capable of, Norway was dominated in a 4-1 decision in the third-place match. It was a display of what the United States is capable of, and what's likely ahead for the young team.
"We'll be back next year (for the Olympics) and we'll be back in four years (for the next World Cup), so we're not going anywhere," U.S. forward Heather O'Reilly said.
It's still a shame that one loss will keep the "Greatest team you've never heard of" anonymous for four more years.
BEST AND WORST OF THE WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
ALL-STAR 11: Goalie - Nadine Angerer, Germany; Defenders - Kerstin Stegemann, Germany; Ane Stangeland Horpestad, Norway; Aline Pellegrino, Brazil. Midfielders - Lori Chalupny, United States; Un Suk Ri, North Korea; Kelly Smith, England; Renate Lingor, Germany. Strikers - Marta, Brazil; Abby Wambach, United States; Birgit Prinz, Germany.
MVP: Marta, Brazil - Not the most talented supporting cast, but carried team to first final appearance with tournament-leading seven goals. At just 21 years-old, this will not be the last MVP that Marta receives.
BEST GOALIE: Angerer, Germany - Rarely tested in group stage but came up big when it mattered most. Record six clean sheets also didn't hurt.
SUPER SUB: Lisa De Vanna, Australia - Came off bench to score four goals, including game-tying goal against Norway, and set up game-winning goal against Canada to put team through to knockout round.
BEST GOAL: Marta's heel flick against the United States - Final nail in the coffin for Americans - showed individual brilliance of world's best player.
WORST GOAL: United States' Leslie Osborne own-goal against Brazil - Mis-hit header from corner gives Brazil early lead and starts Americans' meltdown.
WORST CARD: Shannon Boxx, United States vs. Brazil - Boxx was clipped from behind by Brazil's Cristiane, who then fell to the ground and celebrated as referee Nicole Petignat held up a red card. Took away any chance the United States had at mounting a comeback.
AND THE EMMY GOES TO: Cristiane - The Brazilian was good, scoring five goals to help Brazil reach the final, but her dives were even more impressive. If her soccer career fails - which is unlikely - Hollywood should come calling.
WORST DECISION: Ryan benching Solo in favor of Brianna Scurry - Solo and her 300-minute scoreless streak watched as Scurry let in a pair of soft goals in 4-0 collapse. Scurry had barely played leading up to the tournament and appeared rusty, but Ryan felt that Scurry's play in previous meetings with Brazil would count for something; it did not.
COACH ON THE HOT SEAT: It would be easy to put Ryan on the hot seat for his terrible decision, but the fact is that Ryan deserves the opportunity to lead the United States in next summer's Olympics. A lengthy unbeaten streak prior to the team's loss against Brazil, as well as how well the club rebounded in the third-place match, is evidence that one bad move, no matter how big the event, should not cost Ryan his job.
OVERACHIEVING TEAM: Australia - Having never won a game in three previous World Cups, the Matildas not only won a game, but advanced to the quarterfinals, where they gave Brazil all it could handle.
UNDERACHIEVING TEAM: Sweden - Sweden made the final in the 2003 World Cup and entered the tournament ranked third in the world. Despite playing in the "Group of Death," you would expect a team with those credentials to at least make the knockout round. The team showed its class in a win over North Korea, but disappointing results against the United States and Nigeria were costly.
BEST GAME: Canada vs. Australia - With a spot in the quarterfinals hanging in the balance, Christine Sinclair scored in the 85th minute to put Canada ahead 2-1. However, Australia captain Cheryl Salisbury scored right before the final whistle deep into stoppage time to send Australia to the quarterfinals for the first time. The game had all you could want as a viewer.
WORST GAME: Germany vs. Argentina - It was not a great way to start the 2007 Women's World Cup, as the match was the only one played on the opening day. Germany pounded the helpless South Americans 11-0 in a game that was just as lopsided as the score indicates.
FAVORITE IN 2011: United States - Will return almost the same team for the next World Cup minus captain Kristine Lilly. This group was lacking in World Cup experience prior to the tournament but with younger players like O'Reilly, Chalupny, Osborne and Lindsay Tarpley getting a taste of the world's biggest stage, this team will be tough to handle next World Cup. Abby Wambach will return to lead the offense while Solo will have four years to recover from her emotional meltdown to anchor the defense. The team's 4-1 win over Norway in the third-place game was a sign of things to come.
