Birthday Girl Hope Solo Wants No More Questions On Chastain

After touring the Old Trafford on Monday, site of the women's Tuesday match vs. North Korea, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo declined to back down from her Twitter criticism of NBC commentator Brandi Chastain.

Chastain, a former U.S. Soccer player, had been critical of the team's defense during a broadcast of the team's 3-0 weekend victory vs. Colombia, and Solo's backlash prompted a meeting with coach Pia Sundhage and team captains on appropriate conduct.

Said Solo, speaking for the first time since her incendiary tweets: "It's not about what made me unhappy. It's not about one game. I have my beliefs that the best commentators and the best analysts should… bring energy and excitement and passion to the game and a lot of knowledge, and at some point need to help build the game, and I don't think Brandi has that.

Solo, who turned 31 on Monday, would not say if she had spoken with Chastain after tweeting at her.

"Again it's my opinion and nothing else really matters to be honest," she said. "What matters is tomorrow's games, playing at Old Trafford, the teams excited, it's my birthday. I don't care to answer any more questions about Brandi."

Solo and the U.S. women are 2-0 heading into the final group play match vs. North Korea, having already clinched a spot in the quarterfinals. U.S. midfielder Megan Rapinoe said the team couldn't help but be aware of the Solo-Chastain controversy, but it wouldn't affect their play.

"I think obviously we all know about it but it doesn't really affect us," she said. "(Solo) made a choice to do that, and that's fine but everyone is just kind of focusing on the games and getting ready for the next match."

Chastain did not provide an elaborate defense of her criticism of the U.S. team, but did clarify yesterday that her role is to be an objective commentator for the network.