Soccer and Christ's hypostatic union
Goalkeepers are by far the most interesting players on the soccer field. They really do exist in two different planes. First, they are just like every other player. All the laws of soccer apply to them. The equipment rules are the same for every player. They take up a spot on the roster. They can go anywhere on the field and do everything that any other soccer player can do. All the rules apply to them. They are, in short, just another player. But then there is the second plane : inside the penalty area, they suddenly acquire a new nature. When they are 18, they can use their hands. They are protected from challenges. Other players cannot interfere with their ability to release the ball. There is a whole set of rules governing what they are allowed to do with the ball when it is in their hands, and these rules don’t apply to the other players. Basically, the goalkeeper is a walking contradiction . Now, for most keepers and in most games, the dual nature of the position is irrelev...