Matildas star Sam Kerr set to miss Paris Olympics after ACL injury
The Matildas have shown they can win without Sam Kerr – now they need to prove they can win a medal without her. That’s Tony Gustavsson’s challenge, writes Erin Smith.
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Sam Kerr’s ACL injury is a big blow to Australia’s Olympic campaign but the Matildas have shown more than once they can challenge for a gold medal without the superstar.
The Matildas don’t need someone to step up and be the next Sam Kerr or a new super striker.
That isn’t possible.
Australia doesn’t have a production line of Kerr’s waiting for a turn in the spotlight.
Coach Tony Gustavsson already has all the pieces.
Unlike the World Cup when he had less than 24 hours to plan for life without Kerr, this time he has six-and-a-half months.
He knows within his squad he has the perfect mix of attacking force, precision and adaptable defenders. He just needs to get them to fit together seamlessly.
Adding a new face or trying to force a player to fill the boots of Kerr would just unravel the side.
Kerr has been a key part of the national squad since her debut in 2009 and is the country’s most prolific goal scorer with an impressive 69.
Football Australia has not ruled her out of Paris but the reality is that Ellie Carpenter’s 10-month recovery from an ACL was considered extraordinary, so Kerr needs a miracle to be fully fit by July.
If Australia can get Kerr to a fitness level at which she might play a role off the bench as a penalty shootout “game-changer”, her mere presence within the camp will be a bonus.
However, planning must start now because how Australia can win without Kerr.
The Matildas proved at the World Cup when they beat Ireland and Olympic champion Canada 4-0 that they can beat top teams without their superstar striker.
They were also ahead of Denmark in the round of 16 before she was brought into the game to play her first minutes at the World Cup.
Kerr wasn’t in the starting side until the semi-final against England.
She scored Australia’s lone goal with one of the most stunning shots of the tournament but it was not enough and England won 3-1.
Since the World Cup, Kerr has played limited minutes for Chelsea and the Matildas because of calf and foot injuries.
Yet the Matildas have continued to deliver results, the exception being the experimental match against Canada early last month.
Kerr played limited minutes in the Olympic qualifiers in Perth in October.
While she scored five of the Matildas’ 13 goals, those matches were won 8-0, 3-0 and 2-0 and her contribution, while significant, didn’t win the games.
The past 12 months have shown us Gustavsson’s side has depth.
Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Hayley Raso, Cortnee Vine, Amy Sayer and Emily van Egmond can all score goals.
The Matildas have learnt that while difficult, it is possible to play good football without Kerr.
When Kerr isn’t on the pitch, the Matildas have a more team-driven approach.
They can focus on creating the best opportunities rather than creating the best opportunity for Kerr.
That’s how they earned a crucial win against Canada at the World Cup and beat Denmark in the round of 16.
And it is what they will need to do to bring home a medal from Paris.
‘INCREDIBLE LOSS’: MATILDAS ROCKED BY DEVASTATING SAM KERR INJURY
Australia’s Olympics campaign has been dealt a massive blow after superstar Matildas striker Sam Kerr tore her ACL.
Kerr is set to miss the Paris Olympics as she faces a prolonged spell on the sideline after suffering the anterior cruciate ligament injury during Chelsea’s warm-weather training camp in Morocco.
Kerr will now begin rehabilitation with the London club’s medical team and her absence will be a huge blow to both the Matildas’ Olympic hopes and the Blues as they bid for a fifth successive English Women’s Super League title.
The Matildas face Uzbekistan in a two-legged play-off next month to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
“Considering how hard Sam has worked over the past six months to return to play, this news is a devastating blow for everyone,” Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said.
“With her ability to lead by example, Sam’s guidance and influence on the team is significant and, as a result, this will be an incredible loss for the national team.
“Our focus now is on ensuring she has all the support she wants and needs to navigate recovery and rehab.”
No words 💔 Here with you every single step @samkerr1 â¤ï¸â¤ï¸â¤ï¸ https://t.co/t8vQuLdaQl
— Steph Catley (@stephcatley) January 7, 2024
The ACL injury is a huge blow for Kerr who has only just returned to form following the calf injury she sustained before the opening game of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Kerr was ruled out of the group stage matches and played limited minutes in the remainder of the competition before injuring her other calf in the third-place play off against Sweden.
She took an extended break after the World Cup and then played a reduced role for several weeks with Chelsea while her fitness returned.
Kerr missed the December friendlies against Canada with a foot injury. Prior to that she had played limited minutes in the Olympic qualifiers held in Perth in October.
Kerr has joined a growing list of elite female footballers to suffer the devastating injury which can take up to 12 months to recover from.
Fellow Matildas teammates Kyah Simon and Chloe Logarzo are still fighting to return to form from their ACL tears suffered in 2022.
It is the second time the super striker has suffered this injury — her first came in 2011 in the lead up to the 2011 AFC Olympic qualifiers.
The injury could also pose a risk to Kerr’s domestic career with the striker off contract with Chelsea at the end of the season and yet to sign a new deal.
Kerr has scored four goals in eight games for WSL leaders Chelsea this season, while finding the net five times in four European Champions League appearances.
Kerr, who has scored 99 goals in 128 career games for Chelsea, will now be assessed by a specialist before beginning a lengthy period of rehabilitation.
A club statement issued said: “Everyone at Chelsea would like to wish Sam the very best for her recovery.”
Since joining in 2019, Kerr has helped Chelsea win four WSL titles, three FA Cups, two Women’s League Cups, and the Women’s Community Shield in 2020.
Kerr, the 2023 Ballon d’Or runner-up scored the only goal in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in last season’s FA Cup final.
She was a key figure up front for Chelsea during the 2022/23 campaign after fellow forwards Fran Kirby and Pernille Harder suffered long-term injuries.
Kerr featured in 21 out of Chelsea’s 22 WSL fixtures last season, with her final-day goal double in a 3-0 win at Reading helping secure another title for the Blues.
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