USWNT: A Rematch with France in The Algarve Cup Final

Hope Solo Has The (Confidence) Game Of Her Life

Oct 20, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; United States goalkeeper Hope Solo stands on the sidelines prior to the United States’ game against Haiti in a Women’s World Cup Qualifier at RFK Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

"“The minute she rejoined the team, she’s had a focus. I was really pleased with giving up just one goal in this tournament, and she’s a big part of that. I thought today her distribution was tremendous, her presence was excellent and obviously she had the big save on the penalty kick that was massive for us to maintain the two-goal advantage.” (Jill Ellis, on Hope Solo’s work in the tournament)"

As a confidence boost for beleaguered keeper Solo, Wednesday was huge, but she had to face a substantially less potent or productive French team than Harris did in February, and so it’s disingenuous and unfair to either keeper to compare the two matches. With that caveat out of the way, if you’re Jill Ellis, and you’ve put all your eggs in a Solo-shaped basket for the World Cup, you need to see her confident bordering on arrogant, steadfast in the belief that she’s the best keeper on the planet.

“She’s a rock. We never doubt her. She knows what she’s doing. We listen, trust and respect her. The best part is that other teams do, too, and she imposes herself in every game. She’s huge for us, and she makes the saves when we need her.” (Christen Press)

So, while this was not Hope Solo’s best game ever, it will rank as perhaps the most important game for her in recent memory. In the wake of a host of off-field issues and doubts in her competence, Solo was able to secure a win over an emergent contender away from US soil, and took advantage of the opportunities given to showcase some individual brilliance. This was never more evident than when she saved a penalty kick resulting from a genuinely boneheaded move by Kling to put her hands on Delie in the box (who had the foresight and awareness to sell the fall), when the ball was well-covered by Sauerbrunn.

Let it never be said that Hope Solo isn’t great at her job. That first looping shot by Abily was a lot more dangerous than it looked in real-time. On the replay, you can see the ball start to change direction as it approached goal; never mind that the entire US defense expected her to pass to a wide-open Le Sommer. Similarly, the Hamraoui shot in the second half was a low, hard-driving ball that could have easily bested a lesser keeper. Feel how you want about her, but if this game was any indication, Hope Solo is back.

Next: The US Attack Still Needs Work