Matildas coach wants more help for superstar Sam Kerr going to the World Cup

There’s 100 days until the Women’s World Cup starts and the Matildas are looking for x-factors to help superstar Sam Kerr.

Matildas captain Sam Kerr . (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has stressed the importance of Australia’s “game-changers” at the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup, suggesting their role will be just as important as that of skipper Sam Kerr.

Tuesday marked 100 days until the start of the World Cup, which is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, while a friendly against England in London on Wednesday morning was due to be Gustavsson’s last match before he named his squad for the tournament.

There were still doubts surrounding Kerr’s fitness before the match, but regardless of her possible involvement against England, the Chelsea star is certain to feature at the World Cup.

However, the Matildas will need more than Kerr if they want to win the tournament, with impact of the bench regarded as crucial.

“It’s different tools in different games,” Gustavsson said.

“You know how much I talk about game changers, so we need to have different game-changers from the bench for the World Cup.

Sam Kerr prior to the clash with Scotland (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)

“Some players are competing for a starting spot at the World Cup roster, some players are competing for a game-changer.”

Those potential “game-changers” include 27-year-old former Brisbane Roar attacker Larissa Crummer, who has just joined Norwegian club Brann.

“Sometimes if we’re winning, for example, we also need to have a pressing forward who can offload minutes for Sam (Kerr) and come in and kind of kill the game for us if we’re up 1-0, 2-0,” Gustavsson said.

“We want one of the best pressing forwards in the world. Larissa is one of those.”

“This is all about the bigger picture ... (and) no matter who steps on the field, we need to stay true and loyal to our identity, and test ourselves.

“From the outside you might just look at one camp or one game and say why didn’t they try that, why didn’t they do that? But for us, it’s always been a bigger picture, and a two-year plan.”

Matildas star Tameka Yallop said: “No matter what team we put out we have the football in mind that we want to play, and that’s our focus.”

Originally published as Matildas coach wants more help for superstar Sam Kerr going to the World Cup