Expect Hope Solo to continue to be a target of taunts

RIO DE JANEIRO — International soccer is an unforgiving business, which is why Hope Solo won’t stop getting booed in Brazil any time soon, and why the taunts of “Zika” will likely be hurled in her direction as long as the United States remains in the Olympic tournament.

Solo, the women’s national team goalkeeper, is a polarizing and often controversial figure, and became the subject of local ire in the team’s opening game victory against New Zealand after posting a social media photograph of her extensive measures to guard against mosquito bites.

The 35-year-old World Cup winner and two-time Olympic gold medalist said she was not bothered by the crowd noise in Belo Horizonte’s Estadio Mineirao and gave a calm explanation of her thoughts on the matter ahead of Saturday’s Group G clash with France. Concerns over Zika have been a major issue heading into the Olympics, with the virus linked to birth defects in newborns.

“I wish people would understand that I did my due diligence before coming to Brazil,” Solo told Sports Illustrated. “It was a personal decision I had to make alongside my husband (former NFL player Jerramy Stevens). And it’s not something I just spoke about without getting educated on. It was something very serious to me because I do want to start a family.”

Solo raises valid points but it won’t matter much. She has emerged as a target for the Brazilian fans, and that kind of thing isn’t shaken easily. The France game will be in the same venue and the same kind of treatment can be expected.

However, this very well could make Solo play better. But she has faced adversity, and a few taunting noisemakers, before.

“It doesn’t affect me,” she added. “I came here to do one thing, and that’s to help our team win, our country, win. And I’m very focused in doing that.”

The goalkeeper should certainly have a busier time against France than in the 2-0 win against New Zealand. France is ranked third in the FIFA world rankings and is seen as being one of the most-improved teams in international soccer.

The squad has admitted to having been inspired by comments from their former head coach Bruno Bini, now in charge of France. “If I compare the Chinese team to the French team, Chinese women work harder and they complain much less,” Bini said earlier this week.

The winner of the clash will be guaranteed a place in the quarterfinals of the 12-team Olympic women’s tournament.