Hope for RTÉ’s World Cup coverage after all, it seems
HOPE is coming to RTÉ’s World Cup coverage at last!
US goalkeeper Hope Solo is set to grace Irish screens next Monday and Tuesday.
Questions had been raised over the weekend as Ms Solo appeared to be a no-show in the national broadcaster’s coverage to date.
Solo, 36, was the goalkeeper for the United States women’s national soccer team from 2000 to August 2016, and has been as well-known for her off-pitch antics as those on the field.
The promised appearance of the US star was announced by RTÉ with great fanfare last month.
She was the biggest new addition to RTÉ’s team of guest panellists and commentators and it was reported that the national broadcaster had beaten off competition from CNN and BBC to secure her services.
However, by late last week sports fans had questioned why she had not yet appeared on the panel.
Yesterday an RTÉ spokeswoman confirmed to the Irish Daily Mail, that the goalkeeper would be appearing on Irish screen for July 2 and 3, when the tournament reaches the quarter-final stage.
RTÉ had been hoping that she would add more gender balance to the station’s football coverage, which apart from Irish internationals Louise Quinn and Stephanie Roche, has been male heavy.
Last month, RTÉ’s chief football anchor, Darragh Maloney said how much he was looking forward to working with her.
He remarked: ‘When you have someone in Hope Solo’s category, being the star that she is, for RTÉ to be able to sign her up is a big deal.
‘You have to jump at these opportunities.
‘She has a huge global presence. I am dying to work with her, and I know [fellow presenters] Jacqui [Hurley] and Peter [Collins] are also.’
It’s not known how much Ms Solo was offered for her services by RTÉ.
The US star has had a glittering career, despite some controversy. In 2014 she was charged with a drunken assault on her half-sister and nephew, although charges were later dropped.