Looking at her as a goalkeeper I was in awe, I reckon I would have been in awe if she were not a woman and it is tough not sound sexist when saying that but believe me when I say that it is not the case merely the fact of gender. She comes across as extremely professional and not without emotion. I feel these characteristics are most commonplace in successful people in any field, and are pre-requisites in sportspeople.

My son plays as a goalie he is only 12 but stands 1.73 m and has abilities now that were they to continue will take him wherever he wants to go, but he’s 12 and may take up ballet, graphic design or whatever who knows. I try to encourage him without wearing his shoes for him and one of the best pieces of goalkeeping I have shown him was the clip on youtube “Hope solo fantastic goalkeeper”

Fantastic hands, fantastic speed of foot and reactions , incredible explosive speed, excellent choice making and the one thing that no coaching can give you courage…goalkeepers are said to be half footballer half lunatic this is probably said by those of us who cannot imagine willingly putting their face where only a foot should go. She really does have it all in the footballing world as for her personal life well that’s just what it is her personal life as long as she doesn’t publicly advocate doing drugs or the like I am not interested only in so much as I would wish her well.

As for commenting on being dropped it is a double-edged sword say something it’s disrespectful to others, say nothing and people reckon you don’t want it enough not a winnable situation.
She can’t know she would have made the saves against Brazil but the odds were in her favour.
It was not something that was dealt with particularly well by her, the team, or the coaches and like many others I wonder would a man have been treated in such a manner what goes on tour stays on tour should have been the motto for all concerned Hope included, to exacerbate matters by making her stand in the corner with the naughty hat on was, as I allude to, childish in the extreme.

One final point I believe like many top women players around now, in many countries, there would be times when you see them play and reckon they are much better than that player there and that player being a male. Right now 14/11/2008 Tottenham Hotspur have a goalie,Gomes, who is struggling with a massive loss of confidence , I would place Hope Solo in that goal in a heartbeat Excellent for a girl …she is just plain excellent or do I mean Fantastic