Hope Solo blocks a shot from Ireland and sends it flying over the net THE GREATEST GLOVES ON THE GLOBE Soccer is the most popular sport in the world In most places outside the US soccer is known as football Many countries have their own club leagues where pro teams play Countries also have national teams for both men and women National teams play other teams from around the world in international tournaments All these teams make it very hard to tell which players are the best But that is why it is so much fun for fans to debate the top players Every fan has an opinion on who is the greatest of all time g.o.a.t. 4
FACTS AT A GLANCE IN THE 2015 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP HOPE SOLO DID NOT ALLOW A GOAL BETWEEN THE FIRST GAME OF THE TOURNAMENT AND THE FINAL WORLD CUP DINO ZOFF WAS THE OLDEST PLAYER TO WIN THE IKER CASILLAS PICTURED BELOW TOOK OUT AN LEV YASHIN IS THE ONLY GOALKEEPER IN HISTORY TO WIN THE EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD INSURANCE POLICY ON HIS HANDS Soccer has been around for a long time Some types of the game are nearly 2,000 years old The modern rules started in the 1800s That was when many of the current goalkeeper rules began By the 1900s people all over the world loved the sport The goalkeeper is also called the keeper or the goalie It is one of the most important positions on the field The keeper is the only player allowed to use their hands They wear a different colored jersey than the rest of the team That is so the referees know who is allowed to catch the ball 5
The goalkeeper can only touch the ball inside the penalty box This is a rectangle shaped box that goes around the goal If the keeper touches the ball with their hands outside of that box the other team gets the ball At the last possible second Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus keeps a penalty shot from crossing the goal line 6
German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer saves a shot in an international game against Nigeria The goalkeepers in this book are some of the greatest of all time You and your friends may have other players you like better Maybe some important athletes missed the cut That’s okay That’s what debating sports is all about 7
