Gamesmanship or Pia Being Pia?

The U.S. women's team continues to be in the news off the field as well as on.

First it was Hope Solo's various issues.  Then Tuesday the New York Times published an interview with former U.S. and now Sweden coach Pia Sundhage in which she said Carli Lloyd was "a challenger to coach," Abby Wambach would not be a starter if she were still coaching the United States and Hope Solo was one of the most challenging players she ever coached, "especially when it came to trouble."  Sam Borden did the interview in Sweden last spring.  It's unclear why the Times waited until now to run it.

Lloyd, to her credit, said in the Inquirer simply that she would "respond on the field."  For the record, Lloyd was never a challenge to coach when she played for Joe Dadura and me from ages 14 through 17. 

Conveniently, Lloyd and her teammates will get their chance very soon, like tomorrow night when the U.S. plays Sweden in Winnipeg.  In an Inquirer report Sundhage denied any gamesmanship, saying, "I'm not smart enough to do that."  But you have to wonder.

Meanwhile, the games went on today with the biggest surprise being Germany's 1-1 draw with Norway, leaving the two teams atop Group B with four points each.