Every time the Women’s World Cup rolled around, Hope Solo gritted her teeth and endured it.
Now that the former USA goalkeeper has retired, she is on the offensive.
Due to the size differences between male and female players, generally speaking, it has long been contested that women’s goals should be reduced in size.
Looking, for example, at 2019 Women’s World Cup hosts France, their goalkeepers are all below 6-foot. Sarah Bouhaddi, who started the 4-0 tournament-opening win over Korea on Friday, is 5-foot-9 while her deputies Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (5-foot-8) and Solène Durand (5-foot-7) are both smaller.
Compare that with the French men’s squad that won the 2018 World Cup and you had starting goalkeeper Hugo Lloris (6-foot-2) deputised by Alphonse Areola (6-foot-7) and Steve Mananda (6-foot-1).
Ahead of the Women’s World Cup, Chelsea boss Emma Hayes spoke about ‘physical differences’ between male and female footballers, and suggested the goals could be reduced in size.
“There is often a criticism about goal keeping in the women’s game, I would argue that the goal is just a little bit too big. If it was built around our physical differences then we would be talking about great goalkeepers as opposed to exposing them.”
Were footballing authorities to reduce the size of goals, in women’s football, fans would have been denied a couple of fine finishes from that France vs. Korea game. This well-placed header from the excellent Wendie Renard:
Slad á dhéanamh ag an mbean seo.
An Fhrainc 3- 0 An Chóiré .Bígí Linn don dara leath ar @TG4TV #FIFAWWC @20x20_ie #FRAKOR pic.twitter.com/i56WuW7bD0
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) June 7, 2019
And this peach of a shot from French captain Amandine Henry:
Captaen na Fraince le ceann eile don Fhrainc .
An-oíche don foireann baile i gCorn Domhanda Sacair na mBan.#FIFAWWC #FRAKOR #20×20 @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/UZEb3UBtxP— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) June 7, 2019
The question of reducing goal sizes was put to 202-times capped USA goalkeeper Hope Solo and she had a strong reaction. On The Football Show 24/7, Solo commented:
“I take great offence to that question to be quite honest with you. We have this debate every four years and every tournament, especially in the World Cup.
“That’s like saying if the goalkeeper can’t cover the goal, then they should also decrease the size of the field because women can’t run as far as men, they’re not as powerful, they don’t have as much endurance, but we’re not questioning the size of the field we’re only questioning the size of the goal.
“I think it’s sexist to be quite honest, I think it’s infuriating and I take great offence to that.”
Solo did concede that the standard of goalkeeping in women’s football could improve and added that clubs and countries should do more to increase the standard of goalkeeping trainers.
‘The women’s game the goalkeeping is not as strong as the men’ in terms of coaching and analysis, she added.
