Did anyone see the New Zealand goalkeeper who was wearing a hat throughout the match with Colombia? I thought this was very strange and I was wondering if this is even legal.
Keepers may wear caps as long as they do not have a hard bill or metal "button" on top that could injure someone else if there was a collision. This is not directly expressed in Law 4 which covers player's equipments, but is expressly permitted under the "Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game" document that the US Soccer Federation circulates to its referees.
I used to play as a keeper, and wore a cap once, to see what advantages it had if any. It really helps to keep the sun from your eyes, but cuts your field of vision, specially the air game, cause instead of just moving your eyes to see a ball that is coming your way, you have to move your whole head, and that split second is the difference between a great save and a dumb goal. Now there are some keepers who have "mastered" playing with a hat, I didn't like it.
the second Keeper for colombia (not now in france, but for copa Oro) Miguel calero plays all his afternoon games with a Cap! prefectly ok the NZ guy, Utting, very talented, as he saved his country from a 6-1 or 5-1 type of score vs. colombia. Not so lucky vs. france today
Yeah hats are allowed but I have noticed during games in the NSL the keepers tend to struggle with air balls and when corners are taken. It does keep out the sun but the bad side is when the ball is in the air. That is what I have noticed.
I agree that Utting showed some great class against Colombia, against France he was down and out, very sluggish, they were going home anyway.