Solo not dwelling on the past

Fourth in a series of previews for the Women's World Cup.

United States goalkeeper Hope Solo thought the memory and misery of the 2007 World Cup would be left far behind as she got closer to this year's championships.

Days before the tournament kicks off, she recognizes the folly of that belief.

"[It] comes up now more than it ever has. I guess with the first World Cup since that one being here . . . "

Her voice trails off and Solo's eyes drop. But only for a second or two.

"I thought after we won the gold in '08 in Beijing, and then all the team unity we have built with [coach] Pia Sundhage from the time she arrived after '07, that we would be way beyond '07," Solo said. "But I can see how it can be a story and people bring it up. I expect it, and I am fine with it. We are not trying to sweep '07 under the rug. You learn from it, you have to learn from it. There's nothing to hide. Things like that happen.

"I have no regrets. None. I don't live with regrets. You learn and you move on. I have."

What Solo has moved on from is one of the ugliest incidents in what has been a generally positive and productive existence for the U.S. women's national team.

Having beaten out Briana Scurry, the keeper for the United States when it so memorably won the 1999 World Cup - her penalty-kick save in the shootout led to Brandi Chastain's winning shot - Solo backstopped the Americans to the 2007 semifinals in China. With the slick and quick Brazilians up next, coach Greg Ryan opted to sit Solo for Scurry.

The U.S. team was routed, 4-0.

After the loss, Solo said: "It was the wrong decision, and I think anybody that knows anything about the game knows that. There's no doubt in my mind I would have made those saves. . . . You have to live in the present. And you can't live by big names. You can't live in the past."

Ryan dismissed Solo from the World Cup team. She wasn't allowed on the bench for the third-place game, did not participate in the medal ceremony, and flew home from China on her own.

Soon after, Ryan was replaced by Sundhage.

Solo already had gone through a difficult personal stretch. Her father, Jeffrey, had died just weeks before the tournament began. She'd dedicated the World Cup to him, then posted three shutouts before being benched.

With the 2008 Olympics close on the horizon, Solo not only needed to impress a new coaching staff, she had to recapture the faith of her teammates, some of whom openly criticized how she handled being replaced by Scurry.