For almost three years straight, the U.S. women's soccer team has been undefeated. But the Swedish national team denied the team its 45th win in a row with a 3-0 loss at Tokyo Stadium.
While it did not knock the U.S. out of Olympic contention, the memory of being knocked out of contention for a medal at the Rio Olympics by Sweden was on their minds.
Back then player Hope Solo criticized Sweden's efforts as playing like a "bunch of cowards." It was repeated over and over around the world.
Sweden bested them anyway after the boast.
The Scandinanvian team showed up to Tokyo with a ferocity the U.S. women thought they had but was again bested, as if the American boast is still ringing in their ears.
Megan Rapinoe summed it up, "We got our asses kicked."
"I don't remember this team losing 3-0," Coach Vlatko Andonovski said. "It's a little bit of a shock."
The U.S. will shake off the loss as it tries for the gold medal.
The Tokyo Olympics officially open on July 23. Despite that, elimination rounds of competition have already begun.