I hope hindsight proves that I'm wrong about this, but I can’t help wondering what in the Hell was US Women’s National Team coach Greg Ryan thinking when he decided to bench starting goalkeeper Hope Sole for the Women’s World Cup semi-final match vs. Brazil?

I mean, I have never in my life heard of a coach benching a starting goalkeeper 5 games into a tournament, especially when her only shaky moments came in the first game, not the fourth! To make it seem doubly ridiculous, she is supposed to be the netminder of the future, inheritor of the mantle of 1999 Women's World Cup Champion Briana Scurry.

According to the Washington Post's Steven Goff: "Ryan said he does not think the decision will adversely affect Solo's confidence. 'That's not our concern,' he said. 'We're not looking at long term; long term Hope is going to be fantastic, she's had a great tournament, she might be back in, who knows?'" (Changing Of The Goalie: Scurry Will Start For U.S.)

To repeat that last bit: "She might be back in, who knows?"

Now let's set aside for now the seemingly base-level amateuristic over-coaching of the substitution decision, but that quote combined with his assertion that he doesn't think the benching will adversely affect Solo's confidence makes the whole episode seem farcical.

How can the starting goalkeeper position be up-for-grabs at the end of a tournament? Even worse, how can that be the case when the nominal starter hasn't allowed a goal since the first game?

I'll say right here and now, if we lose to Brazil, the first call US Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati should make come 11 a.m. EDT September 27, 2007, should be to one Mr. Greg Ryan requesting his resignation. Even if we manage to win, I'd still hope Mr. Gulati has a long, frank talk with Ryan as it's kind of hard to wonder why the mainstream media doesn't treat the women's game more seriously when you have the head of the national program making decisions like some puffed up high school coach, convinced of his tactical genius over the abilities of his players: the people who will actually be on the field contesting the game.

With that in mind, here's what I've found so far on the game: All Articles Indexed for the Updated Topic: US WNT vs. Brazil (Sept 27, 2007)
U.S. Women's World Cup Campaign A Bust | Crookston Daily Times (Crookston, MN) Sep 30, 07 | go to article
The Mixed Zone's "International Incident" | CBC Sep 30, 07 | go to article
U.S. Women’s Soccer Coach Should Go | North Jersey Herald News Sep 30, 07 | go to article
Women's World Cup Musings | ESPN Sep 30, 07 | go to article
U.S. Makes Solo The Scapegoat For Its Failure | ESPN Sep 30, 07 | go to article
Ryan Wants To Reconcile With Solo | Google News Sep 29, 07 | go to article
Hope For The Future? | Sports Illustrated Sep 29, 07 | go to article
Five On One: Goalkeeper-Gate | Northwest Herald Sep 29, 07 | go to article
U.S. In Third-Place Match vs. Norway: Hope-Less | New York Times Sep 29, 07 | go to article
Solo's Teammates Leave Her In The Cold | ESPN Sep 29, 07 | go to article
After Upset, U.S. Women's Soccer May Be On Equal Footing With Everyone Else | Washington Post Sep 28, 07 | go to article
Greg Ryan Speaks | Washington Post Sep 28, 07 | go to article
Soap Opera Conclusion For Ryan's Hope | Fox Sports World Sep 28, 07 | go to article
Bad Decisions Equal Net Loss For U.S. Women | San Jose Mercury News Sep 28, 07 | go to article
When Ryan Snubbed His Goalie, He Sealed Team's Fate | Fort Worth Star Telegram Sep 28, 07 | go to article
Brazil Ends U.S. World Cup Hopes | Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Sep 28, 07 | go to article
US Looks On Bright Side Despite World Cup Humbling | Google News Sep 28, 07 | go to article
U.S. Swagger Gone After Goalie Switch | Dallas Morning News Sep 28, 07 | go to article
Belief Pushes Brazil To Brink Of Football Glory | Google News Sep 28, 07 | go to article
U.S. Women's Soccer Team's Loss Turns Ugly | Baltimore Sun Sep 28, 07 | go to article
Controversy Surrounding World Cup Loss | Chicago Tribune Sep 28, 07 | go to article
The Solo Fallout | ESPN Sep 28, 07 | go to article
U.S. Team Upset By Goalie's Remarks | CBC Sep 28, 07 | go to article
Chastain, Foudy Give Stamp Of Disapproval | Yahoo Sep 28, 07 | go to article
Goalkeepers Are Different | Soccer America Sep 28, 07 | go to article
U.S. Women Suffer 'Worst Loss,' Against Brazil | San Diego Union Tribune Sep 28, 07 | go to article
Hope Solo Is Right, And Wrong | ESPN Sep 28, 07 | go to article
U.S. Women's World Cup Fortunes Declined Quickly In Rout By Brazil | Soccer Times Sep 28, 07 | go to article
USA Goalie Trashes Coach | United Press International Sep 28, 07 | go to article
Goalie Solo Says She Didn't Mean To Rip Teammate | Baltimore Sun Sep 28, 07 | go to article
Ryan Eyes Reconciliation On U.S. Women's Soccer Team | USA Today Sep 28, 07 | go to article
US Coach Criticized Following Team's Women's World Cup Loss | Voice of America Sep 28, 07 | go to article
Brazil Outhustles U.S. For 4-0 Cup Win | Google News Sep 28, 07 | go to article
Two Ships Passing | Sports Illustrated Sep 28, 07 | go to article
World Cup Matchday: USA-Brazil | Washington Post Sep 27, 07 | go to article
Questionable World Cup Calls | Yahoo Sep 27, 07 | go to article
Five Things I Think About The U.S. Loss | ESPN Sep 27, 07 | go to article
Ryan's Goalkeeper Switch Backfires In A Big Way | CBC Sep 27, 07 | go to article
Post-Match Quote Sheet: Brazil 4, USA 0 | USSF Sep 27, 07 | go to article
USA Falls, 4-0, Brazil In 2007 FIFA World Cup Semifinals | USSF Sep 27, 07 | go to article
USA Women 0-4 Brazil Women | BBC Sep 27, 07 | go to article
Brazil Whips U.S. Women's Soccer Team | Chicago Tribune Sep 27, 07 | go to article
Brazil Delivers U.S. A Stunning World Cup Exit | New York Times Sep 27, 07 | go to article
Brazil Rolls To Stunning Win Over U.S. | Sports Network Sep 27, 07 | go to article
Dazzling Brazil Shock US To Make World Cup Final | Google News Sep 27, 07 | go to article
U.S. Lost All Hope Before Semi | Sports Network Sep 27, 07 | go to article
Brazil Rolls To 4-0 victory Over Americans In World Cup Semifinal | Soccer Times Sep 27, 07 | go to article
Solo's Future With The U.S. Team Undetermined | ESPN Sep 27, 07 | go to article
Brazil Overwhelms U.S. With Its Talent | ESPN Sep 27, 07 | go to article
No-Win Situation | Sports Illustrated Sep 27, 07 | go to article
Brazil Routs U.S. To Reach Women's World Cup Final | Bloomberg Sep 27, 07 | go to article
No More Kicks | Newsweek Sep 27, 07 | go to article
Ryan's Decisions Hurt The U.S. | ESPN Sep 27, 07 | go to article
Wambach, U.S. Soccer Team Shut Out In World Cup Semifinals | Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Sep 27, 07 | go to article
U.S. Sees Holes In Brazilians' Spotty Defense | Washington Post Sep 26, 07 | go to article
Changing Of The Goalie: Scurry Will Start For U.S. | Washington Post Sep 26, 07 | go to article
Wambach To 'SI': She Relishes Image Of Bull-In-China-Shop Player | Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Sep 26, 07 | go to article
Dance Of The Samba Queens | Sports Illustrated Sep 26, 07 | go to article
Ryan Benches Solo For Scurry In World Cup Semifinal vs. Crafty Brazil | Yahoo Sep 26, 07 | go to article
Midfielder Osborne Keys U.S. Defense Against Brazil | USA Today Sep 26, 07 | go to article
U.S. WNT Ready For Semifinal Clash Against Brazil On Thursday, Live On Espn2 | USSF Sep 26, 07 | go to article
USA Ready To Rumble Against Brazil | Google News Sep 26, 07 | go to article
United States Makes Surprise Change In Goal For Brazil; veteran Scurry Replaces Solo | Yahoo Sep 26, 07 | go to article
USA Ready To Rumble Against Brazil | Yahoo Sep 26, 07 | go to article
Brazil Poses Different Challenge For U.S. | Yahoo Sep 26, 07 | go to article
Seeking To Create Havoc | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sep 26, 07 | go to article
U.S., Brazil Women Ready To Rumble | Miami Herald Sep 26, 07 | go to article
Winnin' Time | San Diego Union Tribune Sep 26, 07 | go to article
Brazil Out To Avenge Olympic Loss Against USA | Soccer America Sep 26, 07 | go to article
Ryan Benches Solo; Scurry To Start vs. Brazil | US Soccer Review Sep 26, 07 | go to article
U.S.-Brazil: The Americans Switch Goalkeepers | New York Times Sep 26, 07 | go to article
Gold Standard | Sports Illustrated Sep 25, 07 | go to article
The Talk Of The Cup | Sports Illustrated Sep 25, 07 | go to article
USA, Brazil Play In Women's World Cup Semifinals | Voice of America Sep 25, 07 | go to article
Solo, U.S. Target Final Berth | Yahoo Sep 25, 07 | go to article
Teamwork vs. Individual Brilliance | Yahoo Sep 25, 07 | go to article
USA Defense Ready For Potent Brazil Attack | Sports Network Sep 25, 07 | go to article
What's In A Name? She Is Simply Marta, And Marvelous | Yahoo Sep 24, 07 | go to article
U.S. Expects Struggle At World Cup Semis | Google News Sep 24, 07 | go to article