Women’s World Cup: Schwarzer casts doubt over Kerr’s readiness for Denmark match
Mark Schwarzer has cast doubt over Matildas’ captain Sam Kerr’s readiness to return for the Australians clash with Denmark on Monday. Will the superstar prove her fitness?
World Cup
Don't miss out on the headlines from World Cup. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Socceroos legend-cum-pundit Mark Schwarzer has cast serious doubt over Sam Kerr’s readiness to take the pitch against Denmark in the Matildas round of 16 match on Monday.
Kerr looked uncomfortable through the Matildas’ Friday training session, with Optus Sport capturing a few of Kerr’s expressions which sent Schwarzer to a place of doubt.
“I’m still suspicious she’s even fit to play this next game.†ðŸ¤@schwarzer_mark is reserving judgement on Sam Kerr’s fitness.
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) August 4, 2023
She insists she’s available.
Will she feature against Denmark on Monday night?
From #DKO | https://t.co/1TGclIyxSU#FIFAWWC#OptusSportpic.twitter.com/HJ85YEyzXh
“We saw in the warm-up before the Canada game that she didn’t kick a ball so I don’t think she was fit at all,” Schwarzer said.
“That 15 minute window that we get to watch training is very, very little. We don’t know what happens beyond that.
“It’s good as anyone’s guess.”
Kerr played 83 minutes in the Matildas 3-1 win over Denmark the last time the teams met in 2022; yet her key player equivalent on the Danish side, Pernille Harder, was not available for that.
While the Australians will be buoyed by their Kerr-less performance against Canada, the star striker could become crucial as the team progresses through the knockout stages and against more highly-favoured competition.
Given the tight-lipped nature of information about Kerr’s injury, fans can expect not to know if Kerr will take the pitch until the number 20 is raised by the fourth official on Monday night.
The ‘superpower’ which can take Matildas all the way
Tony Gustavsson calls it the Matildas’ superpower.
Back them into a corner and they will come out swinging.
So it proved against Canada on Monday night as Australia climbed from third in Group B to top the table, surging from the brink of elimination into the World Cups’s knockout stages.
Canada coach Bev Priestman declared after the Olympic champions were blown away 4-0 in Melbourne that the Matildas were capable of a semi-final finish — if not better.
While every game is do-or-die from this point, Australia now finds itself carrying the expectation of a nation expecting success instead of a salvage mission.
“The fact that it is must-win all the way through I think helps this team,” Gustavsson said.
“It means the pressure will be on every single game and we said our playoffs started (against Canada) and we (were) going to treat this game the same way as with the three upcoming playoff games. So if we can have the same mindset going forward, it feels really good.”
But the question that remains is, how will the Matildas cope without their backs-to-the-wall mentality to draw on?
“I think I need help from some other people that have been part of the program for longer than I have in terms of the culture and never-say-die attitude, how it’s built over years,” Gustavsson said.
“I do know it’s a superpower though that I’m very proud of being a part of. But I also think that this team have proven in other games when maybe the game when they start, it’s not up against the wall, it just needs to be a good performance...I do think there’s moments when this team can play that high octane attacking fluent football even when they’re not up against the wall.”
Attacker Caitlin Foord sounded a warning to Australia’s rivals, declaring: “We’re just getting started. Obviously this game was a knockout one for us, so we’re already in the rhythm of it and we’ve just got to keep going and keep building on it now.”
COACH’S TEARS AS MATILDAS COME UP CLUTCH
Tilly Werner
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said he cried tears of joy after his side beat Olympic champions Canada to secure their spot in the World Cup knockout stage.
After a week of scrutiny with many calling for him to be sacked, Gustavsson refused to be distracted from what his side has accomplished after two ordinary performances before the do-or-die showdown in Melbourne.
Australia needed a win to ensure they progressed to the next stage of the tournament and they delivered in emphatic style scoring five times through the 90 minutes with one goal controversially disallowed.
Sam Kerr, who has been under an injury cloud since day one of the tournament when it was revealed she had hurt her calf, played no role in the rout and will now get an additional seven days to rest.
Asked if the clinical display was a relief, Gustavsson said: “I think it is the wrong word. I’m proud. I had happy tears for the girls and fans. They deserved this. The way they united with the fans. This is more than football.
“It is bigger than 90 minutes football tonight. Then I have to be boring and stay humble because now we only got out of the Group stage. Now we need to recover.”
Pushed on how he handled the pressure of coaching the host side Gustavsson admitted he probably had an unhealthy attitude to things.
“I think with experience and maybe my personality it might not be healthy but a little bit addicted to these moments. You asked me before how I felt going into a high-pressure game and I said I love it.
“I love these moments when it is high pressure do or die game. As a person as coach it brings something out of me. It is easier to do with the players around me.
“We did simple mistakes in defending against Nigeria, we fixed up today, played brilliant attacking football with one of the best forwards in the world on the bench and we win 4-0 – that says a lot about the belief in this team as welled.”
Despite the victory, Australia’s highest scoreline at a World Cup match ever, John Aloisi was still critical of Gustavsson’s approach.
“(He) definitely would have lost his job (if they had lost),” Aloisi said on Channel 7.
“He would have been a failure. He spoke about that leading into the game, that it would have been a failure. I still think – and I’m going to be critical here – I think Tony still should have made subs earlier.
“We are going through deep in the tournament. We only played 14 players.”
MATILDAS RESPOND TO NATION’S CALL
For Matildas both on the pitch and its sidelines, it wasn’t just an astonishing night of football – it was a plea to a nation.
Chloe Logarzo watched the match from Optus Sport’s commentary box and felt that everything the team gave off the pitch deserves a significant response from the team’s fans.
“We’ve inspired a nation,” Logarzo said.
“The way we responded, we’ve been clinical – it’s everything we’ve been waiting for.
“A bit emotional myself, they needed this for themselves. Not just the crowd, they needed it for them.
“I call for everyone at home, please support us on this journey. You are the twelfth man, please keep supporting us.
“Collectively they were incredible. It’s unbelievable what happens when you have a nation before you to propel you forward.”
Former A-League women’s player and current Chelsea assistant coach Tanya Oxtby reflected that the importance of fans rallying around the team only grows from here.
“They’ve shown when their backs are against the wall what they can do,” Oxtby said.
“The weight of the responsibility for that they’ve shown what they can do and it’s about to go up a notch.”
Football pundits were collectively relieved with the idea of not facing England in the round of 16.
Amy Chapman, who has 20 caps for the Matildas, exhaled after Mary Fowler’s third goal, with the prospect of facing the Lionesses now far lessened.
“Against England, it would be an incredible match to watch but we wanted to avoid England; they’re a tough opponent and one of the favourites for the tournament,” Chapman said.
They are a more likely prospect of facing China or Denmark in the first knockout game, both teams they are familiar with in tournament football having played China three times in World Cup matches and Denmark once.
The Matildas have never beaten either team at the tournament.
“Matildas have a lot of experience against China, they can be a difficult task,” Chapman said.
“Denmark is another interesting European challenge as well.”
While the Matildas may rest easier tonight with progression secured and the threat of England minimised, both FA and FIFA officials looked just as relieved in the stands as the team did gleeful on the pitch.
FA boss James Johnson sat with FIFA president Gianni Infantino through the match and Channel 7 commentator couldn’t help but pass commentary on their shared investment.
“I think the head of FIFA is almost as relieved as we are that the host nation has gone on,” McAvaney said, given New Zealand were knocked out of contention yesterday.
“We’ve invested very heavily in the Matildas program. They’ve gone through the hardest schedule in the past three years in the history of the program,” Johnson said ahead of the match
“We’ve put them in the best position possible.
“Bringing this tournament to our shores was about the legacy it would create and we’re already living legacy.
“We’re seeing more participants play the sport, especially young girls and women. We’re seeing more investment into infrastructure, big stadiums but also local communities.
“We’re seeing more women in leadership positions across the game and this is why we bid in the first place.”
Mark Schwarzer, who has plenty of experience in how a nation can rally around its footballers felt that this moment can be a lasting one for the game.
“This is a real imprint, this side has made an imprint on the nation tonight,” Schwarzer said.
More Coverage
Originally published as Women’s World Cup: Schwarzer casts doubt over Kerr’s readiness for Denmark match
Arnold’s surprise Socceroos payout reveal, plan to revive career
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Six weeks after handing in his resignation as Socceroos coach, Graham Arnold has revealed the words that stung the most, his plans for the future and one major rumour surrounding his exit.
A draw may look good but the real difference was clear as day
It wasn’t pretty but a masterful tactical display from Tony Popovic delivered Australia a shock draw, but it was far from the finished product as Japan proved they are clearly a class above.