The cheese stands alone.

As I've been watching these World Cup games, my heart continuously goes out to the goalies. The more I watch, the more I feel for, and respect them. They have one of the loneliest positions in all team sports and yet need to display a great amount of strength.

- While not the captain, they must often step up as leaders, organizing their team members for optimal defense during crucial times.

- Despite the other 10 players on the field in this team sport, the goalie is the last line of defense. Often, when that ball is zooming towards the net, it's all on the goalie to keep the team alive. While this is also true in hockey (and not to detract from hockey goalies at all - that's a very small puck to block), the soccer net is much larger, requires much more energy to cover and doesn't move when your body crashes into it while you're flying through the air. Corner kicks, penalty kicks, breakaways, oh my!

- Penalty kicks - aye yie yie! I think these have to be the most stressful part of any sporting event. What a horrid way to end the game. Just the kicker and the goalie. And the expectation is that the goalie doesn't really have a chance. I don't know how they get through these - I have a hard time keeping *my* stomach under control!

- Slightly detached from the team. Not only do they have to miss out on goal celebrations because the team is at the other end of the field (again, true in hockey - but the soccer field is much larger, therefore the team is much further away), they have to wear a different colour jersey so that, even visually, they are separate from the team. Seems a bit lonely.

Immense pressure. A bit separated from the team. And yet they fly around and make miraculous saves time and time again. Something about their craziness and dedication and talent make them my favourite sports position. The good news is it's not a thankless job. Their teams love them. Their fans love them. And they deserve every ounce of it.