Stephanie Roche strikes a blow for equality

Sepp Blatter said tighter shorts might popularise women’s football, but Stephanie Roche’s world-class strike has done more for the sport than any amount of hot pants.

The Dubliner has made it to the final three in the FIFA Puskás Award. She is the first female player to make the shortlist for goal of the year from the original 10 nominees.

The award is given to the player judged to have scored the most aesthetically significant, or “most beautiful”, goal.