U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo dropped for 3d-place game

SHANGHAI, China - U.S. coach Greg Ryan tossed goalkeeper Hope Solo off the women's World Cup team for today's third-place game against Norway. His decision, which has the support of the 20 remaining players, came after he benched Solo for Thursday's semifinal, in which Brazil routed the United States, 4-0.

Solo lashed out in an interview, saying Ryan made the "wrong decision" in dropping her in favor of veteran Briana Scurry against the quick and creative Brazilians.

The 36-year-old Scurry will face Norway today in a game that precedes the championship match between defending champion Germany and Brazil.

Ryan said Solo would not even attend the Norway game. The U.S. team practiced without her, and officials said she remained in China, meaning she probably will return home with the squad.

"We have moved forward with 20 players who have stood by each other, who have battled for each other," Ryan said.

Solo hadn't allowed a goal for almost 300 minutes when she was benched. Ryan chose the smaller, quicker Scurry, who led the United States to its last World Cup title in 1999 and held off Brazil in the 2004 Olympic final.

Captain Kristine Lilly and star striker Abby Wambach said Solo apologized at a team meeting. On her MySpace page, Solo wrote that she didn't intend to criticize Scurry. She still maintained, however, that Ryan's decision was wrong.

"This is our chance to get back on the field and show our country and our fans how we can play soccer," Lilly said. "That's really what's important for this group right now."

Wambach, who has four goals in the World Cup, called the dispute "uncharted territory" for the U.S. women, who had been unbeaten in their first four games in an otherwise low-key tournament: a tie with North Korea, and wins over Sweden, Nigeria and England.

"It just goes to show you have to be professional all the time and you have to watch what you say," Wambach said.

Ryan said he made the decision to drop Solo after meeting with team leaders.

"The circumstance that happened and her going public has affected the whole group," said Lilly, the 36-year-old striker who is playing in a record fifth World Cup. "And having her with us would still be a distraction."