Safe Hands: Marie Hourihan (SC Braga & Republic of Ireland)

The magazine’s regular slot for goalkeepers turns to Marie Hourihan, then at SC Braga and first choice for the Republic of Ireland. Her favourite save is not the hardest she has made but the one she remembers: pushing a Sherida Spitse shot round the post in a sold-out stadium as Ireland held the European champions goalless in World Cup qualifying. She went in goal because nobody else wanted to, describes herself as vocal, commanding and imposing, and names Peter Schmeichel as her model for bringing unorthodox handball techniques into goalkeeping. The favourite shirt is the bright yellow Ireland one from her first cap against Hungary at the 2017 Cyprus Cup, complete with clean sheet. Her advice to other keepers is to outsmart opponents with decisions where you cannot match them physically.