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Matildas v France: Sam Kerr must start, Tony Gustavsson cannot afford to have any regrets

If Sam Kerr starts for the Matildas the sad fact is someone has to miss out. It’s not fair but that’s the reality of football. Robbie Slater looks at who will be sidelined.

Australia's forward #11 Mary Fowler (C) shoots and scores against Canada
Australia's forward #11 Mary Fowler (C) shoots and scores against Canada

Sam Kerr must start for the Matildas against France.

It’s the grand occasion of a World Cup quarter-final, and she’s the best striker and goalscorer in women’s football, so she has to play from the opening whistle.

It’s not a time for Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson to start doubting himself.

There can’t be any regrets after Saturday night’s quarter-final.

Imagine if Gustavsson delayed Kerr’s entry into the game, not giving her enough time to have an impact if the Matildas were in desperate need of help to remain alive in the tournament.

Gustavsson would never forgive himself.

By starting Kerr, Gustavsson gives the Matildas the best possible chance of winning the game.

If she doesn’t last the full match because of her calf, that’s fair enough, but she can give the Australians the necessary impetus they will need to advance to the semi-finals.

Playing Kerr from the start will also bring the crowd into the contest straight away.

The roar that came from fans just to see Kerr warming up in Sydney last Monday night was amazing.

Having that noise from the start will create an even better atmosphere at the “Cauldron” that is Suncorp Stadium this weekend.

The Matildas have spoken this week about the fans being their “12th” player and any edge the Aussies can get against a world-class French team must be made the most of.

Kerr’s inclusion would of course be a tough call on the player to lose her spot ­– most likely either Emily van Egmond or Mary Fowler.

Neither van Egmond nor Fowler deserve the axe such have been their World Cup performances.

However, if the Matildas want to beat France, there is no room for sentiment at the selection table.

Sam Kerr is likely to start against France but could it all go wrong?
Sam Kerr is likely to start against France but could it all go wrong?

Regardless of who makes way for Kerr, if Gustavsson makes the call to include his captain in the starting 11, the Matildas must not change their formation.

There may be a temptation to play Kerr and Caitlin Foord as twin strikers and revert to a 4-4-2 system,

However, Foord has been a revelation since moving out wide on the left, with the Matildas looking far better using a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Therefore Kerr should be the sole striker, with Foord and the in-form Hayley Raso providing support from the flanks, and either Fowler or van Egmond playing in the No.10 role.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Matildas can win this game.

They beat France less than a month ago, and while that game was friendly, the Australians would have got great belief and confidence from the 1-0 win.

However, the French can’t be underestimated, and have some unfinished business to take care of from four years ago when as World Cup hosts, they were knocked out in the quarter-finals.

They know the pressure the Matildas are feeling in carrying the weight of a nation on their shoulders.

So far the Matildas have embraced that pressure and if they can do so again on Saturday night, they will move a step closer to becoming world champions.

Originally published as Matildas v France: Sam Kerr must start, Tony Gustavsson cannot afford to have any regrets

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/world-cup/matildas-v-france-sam-kerr-must-start-tony-gustavsson-cannot-afford-to-have-any-regrets/news-story/99257a854fbf8bb403b6e56cd4e7f281