Matildas ready for the challenge of succeeding without the services of Sam Kerr

The Matildas aren’t about to allow themselves to be derailed by the loss of captain and star forward Sam Kerr.

Alanna Kennedy has promised the Matildas won’t underestimate Uzbekistan. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The Matildas’ performances at last year’s Women’s World Cup without Sam Kerr has them confident of success at the Paris Olympics in the absence of their captain and star striker.

Australia will qualify for this year’s Paris Games by beating Uzbekistan in a two-legged, home-and-away battle that starts on Saturday in Tashkent before concluding with the second leg at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on February 28.

While the Matildas aren’t taking qualification for granted, they are desperate to medal in Paris, having finished fourth at the World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics.

Their hopes suffered a blow when Kerr ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee in January, an injury that will sideline her for at least nine months.

“We are all heartbroken for Sam and shocked and devastated when she did her ACL,” Matildas defender Alanna Kennedy said.

The Matildas are confident of succeeding without Sam Kerr. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images

However, not all is lost for the Matildas, with Kennedy believing her team can not only beat Uzbekistan over two legs without Kerr, but also finish among the medals in Paris despite not having the Chelsea star to call on.

At last year’s World Cup on home soil, the Matildas reached the semi-finals despite Kerr injuring her calf.

Kerr missed Australia’s opening three games of the tournament, and only started in two of the squad’s seven matches. The Matildas lost both of them.

“It’s a blow for us but we take confidence in the World Cup we had,” the 29-year-old Sydney product said.

“I have confidence in the squad that we have. For other players it’s an opportunity to step up and show what they can do as well.”

“I’m sure (Kerr’s) leadership will still be present throughout. She’ll want to be a part of it in some capacity.”

Kennedy, who missed the Matildas’ World Cup semi-final and third-placed playoff losses due to delayed concussion symptoms, recently returned to club duties with Manchester City after being sidelined with a calf injury.

“It was a pretty straight-forward rehab for me,” she said.

“It all went well and I’m just happy to be fit and healthy again.”

Kennedy stressed the Matildas would not underestimate Uzbekistan.

“Any team that we come up against at this stage is obviously going to see us as a threat and want to play with a compact structure,” she said.

“It will be about having patience and breaking down their structure. I’m sure they have a lot of motivation to create history for their country as well.”

Originally published as Matildas ready for the challenge of succeeding without the services of Sam Kerr