Insider roundup: Hope Solo, U.S. friendly, U-20s qualify, Galaxy vs. Hoyas, Messi in D.C.?

Every Monday, Page 2 of the Sports print section features a soccer centerpiece and several notebook items. Here are today’s contents:

There is no better female goalkeeper in the world than Hope Solo. There is also no weirder, troublesome or controversial female goalkeeper in the world than Hope Solo.

The U.S. national team will need to reconcile those two forces and move past the latest eye-rolling transgression if Solo is to protect the net this summer when the Americans seek their first Women’s World Cup trophy since 1999.

Solo, 33, is serving a month-long suspension for an incident during her stay at U.S. training camp in Southern California. Husband Jerramy Stevens, a former NFL tight end with a criminal past, was charged with driving under the influence in the wee hours last Monday. His passenger was Solo. The vehicle belonged to the U.S. Soccer Federation. Solo was reportedly belligerent toward police officers.

The suspension has knocked Solo out of service for two away friendlies against World Cup-bound teams: France on Feb. 8 and England five days later.

Her reinstatement is not automatic. Rather, it will hinge on “review and approval” by Coach Jill Ellis and the USSF. If she does not return for the Algarve Cup, a tournament in March in Portugal featuring six of the world’s best teams, it might mean Ellis has seen enough and is ready to move on without Solo, a two-time gold medalist with a U.S.-record 77 shutouts in 161 matches.

The Americans, ranked No. 2 in the world behind Germany, will make final preparations for the Women’s World Cup in Canada with one home friendly in April and three in May. The USSF will announce the venues and opponents soon. The tournament kicks off June 6.

Solo was contrite after her latest episode.

“I apologize for disappointing my teammates, coaches and the federation who have always supported me,” she said in a prepared statement. “I think it’s best for me to take a break, decompress from the stress of the last several months and come back mentally and physically ready to positively contribute to the team.”

The suspension came a week after Solo was cleared of charges in a domestic violence case involving family members in Washington state. The USSF did not ban her after those accusations, instead waiting for the legal process to play out because the incident did not occur while on U.S. duty and the facts were in dispute.