Much has changed for Hope Solo, even since last month, much less the last World Cup. She’s gone from a pariah four years ago, persona non grata, to a team leader. She’s gone from the goalkeeper on the best team that nobody knew last month to an instant multimedia darling and a potential marketing machine.
But even as her Facebook likes and twitter following skyrocket by the day, taking her earning potential with it, she insists what she really wants is a World Cup title. She says fame and acclaim can wait, that her focus _ indeed the entire U.S. team’s focus _ is on Sunday’s final (2 p.m., ESPN) vs. an inspired Japan team.
“It’s pretty clear we’re not going to see the same Japan team that we saw in the last couple of games. They’re playing for something bigger and better than the game,’’ Solo said of the Japanese, driven by the tragic earthquakes. “When you’re playing with so much emotion, and so much heart, that’s hard to play against. They’re a brilliant team on the attack already…it’s going to be an incredible final.’’
Incredible might be a fitting term for Solo’s keeping, but it sure isn’t an apt description of how the last World Cup went for her four years ago. Her father _ and biggest fan and supporter _ had died just before the tournament. Still grieving, she got benched by then-coach Greg Ryan before the semifinal vs. Brazil.
After the U.S. got shelled 4-0, Solo commented that she could’ve saved some of those goals. Her teammates read that as a shot at Briana Scurry, and she was suspended not only from the third-place game but even the flight home from China, outcast and ostracized by her friends.
“Of course I’ve talked about the last World Cup with her, and between then and now we had the Olympics in 2008 and the way she played, saving a ball in the final. Right now I’m very happy with what I see,’’ said U.S. coach Pia Sundhage, who has backed the 29-year-old Solo and gotten a world-class keeper in return.
“I stand true to the sentiment what doesn’t break you makes you stronger. That’s my whole life story, I struggled through whether it be certain family issues or hard times in life, losing my dad, whatever it may be. I’ve always found myself to come out stronger than before,’’ Solo said in a TV interview. “If you don’t let something break you, you’re going to come out better in the end.
“It was a strange tournament personally for me and the team. I went in grieving the loss of my father and wasn’t able to enjoy every moment of fulfilling mu lifelong dream of masking a World Cup team. I came into this tournament four years later and have been able to enjoy the athlete side of it, the crowd, the love of the game. I never got that four years, and so for me it truly feels like my first World Cup.’’
Fast forward to Sunday, when Solo _ regarded by many as the world’s best female keeper _ correctly read Brazilian shooter Daiane’s tell during penalty kicks, ascertained she was going to her left and dove to make a huge save.
“Hope is one of many leaders,’’ said Sundhage. “I think she’s an even bigger leader on the field. She has a unique position as a goalkeeper. The fact that she’s good with her feet, everybody is comfortable playing the ball back to her, but also she’s come up with good saves. On the field, she leads by example, which is important. As everyone else, she’s a winner, and wants to win.’’
The U.S. Women won 5-3 in PKs, and became instant social media darlings. Kevin Durant even tweeted that he was naming his daughter Hope Solo Durant.
The 1999 U.S. team that won the World Cup pushed the sport into the limelight and made Mia Hamm a worldwide star, earning $8-10 million annually at her endorsement peak according to the Big Lead. If the U.S. wins Sunday, Solo _ with her model-esque looks _ could join Abby Wambach in raking in as much as $3-$4 million.
“Somebody told me (my Twitter account) went from 10,000 to over 100,000 followers. (Social media) is obviously huge, and it’s the evolution of not just sports but the times,’’ said Solo. “I don’t think it’s a distraction.
“This team, we’ve had the mentality from day one, we came for one reason: It wasn’t beating Brazil in the quarterfinals, it wasn’t to make it the final. Our one and only goal was to win this tournament, and I think people are staying pretty true to that.’’