Matildas captain Sam Kerr has revealed she could have played in the final group game against Canada if required – and what she couldn’t do after the 2-0 win over Denmark in the World Cup round of 16 on Monday night.
Kerr, 29, came off the bench against the Danes in Sydney, marking her long-awaited tournament debut on home soil after battling a calf injury.
The striker played the final 15 minutes and received a rousing reception when she entered the fray at Stadium Australia.
She was also beaming, running onto the pitch with broad smile in a moment that sent the crowd wild and commentator Izzy Christiansen felt summed up her ‘flawless leadership’.
‘I was going to play [the] last game against Canada. [But] the girls smashed it,’ Kerr told Channel Seven after the match as she revealed details about her injury situation for the first time.
Matildas captain Sam Kerr finally got some World Cup minutes under her belt on Monday in the round of 16 win over Denmark
Kerr revealed post game she could have played in the final group game against Canada if required – and what she couldn’t do after the 2-0 win over the Danes
‘They didn’t need me. We thought we would give it a rest. Today [Monday] there was the opportunity that I wouldn’t play [again] if the girls smashed it.
‘We thought it was best for me and the team [that she played off the bench]. The girls absolutely killed it. I’m so proud of them. Me coming on personally it was just a big relief after a big three weeks.’
When asked later if she will start in the Matildas’ quarter-final clash with either France or Morocco on Saturday in Brisbane, Kerr didn’t give much away.
‘I mean, I have a plan,’ she said. ‘The physios [also] have a plan.
‘I asked them if I could run after the game and they said no, so I’m sure I’ll just be following their plan like I have the last few weeks.’
Kerr (pictured right) was all smiles when she replaced teammate Hayley Raso in the 79th minute
Kerr also received the captain’s arm band from Steph Catley as she marked her first appearance in the 2023 World Cup
Kerr couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she ran onto the pitch in a moment that sent the crowd wild, with commentator Izzy Christiansen saying summed up her ‘flawless leadership’
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson didn’t need to bring Kerr on when he did, with Australia up 2-0 late in the second half.
But the Swede says after lengthy deliberation it was decided that it was best to ease his skipper back into game time ahead of potentially longer minutes later in the tournament.
‘We had a lot of talks with Sam about when we used here and if she needed minutes to get ready mentally or physically to get ready for the next game,’ Gustavsson said.
‘That means there’s a risk, and how much are you willing to risk? It’s a tough decision.’
Kick-off on Saturday against either France or Morocco in the World Cup quarter-final is 5pm in Brisbane.
ncG1vNJzZmhqZGy7psPSmqmorZ6Zwamx1qippZxemLyue82erqxnkpq5sMLEnWSgnZ%2BntKqtjKCgq6RdoLavv8uenGabopqypXnDopysZZGbwaa%2BjJyYq2Wjoq60tMSsZKKmpKR6tMHVZpisZaOdsm7DwKxkqKZdnbKzedaasGasn2LAprGMnJ%2BroaOpuqK%2FjKWgoKCkqHq0sc2doKefXZius3nBmqmrnZyeu6h5zp%2BdZqyYmnqzu8CdZJqmlGKzrbXPqaCnn12ewW671Z6paA%3D%3D