Sam Kerr should not be taking penalties for the Matildas at the Olympics

Sam Kerr has long been Australia’s biggest football superstar but a key deficiency has left the Matildas exposed on the world’s biggest stage.

The Matildas’ Olympic campaign has hit a massive snag after a 4-2 loss to Sweden left them struggling to stay alive in the competition.

The World No. 9 Aussies were no match for the World No. 5 Sweden and their progress from the “Group of Death” will now come down to a scrumptious final group match against World No. 1 USA.

A moment against Sweden badly hurt Australia’s chances of going through to the next round – and it wasn’t our superstar Sam Kerr going unrewarded after being taken down in the first half.

While the sides went to the break at 1-all, Kerr already had a goal and quickly added a second after a simple header from a perfect cross from Caitlin Foord.

Sweden bounced back with two goals of their own to open a 3-2 lead.

Australia had been unlucky throughout the match with fans and players erupting over what they believed should have been penalties.

But in the 69th minute, Foord was taken down in the box to be handed a penalty.

Captain Kerr is two goals shy of being Australia’s highest ever international goal scorer and was eyeing off a hat-trick, so of course she took the shot.

Kerr is the key component for the Matildas as the side’s genuine superstar.

Unfortunately, Swedish keeper Hedvig Lindahl had other plans, choosing the right way on the dive.

Sweden's goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl ruins Australia’s dreams.

Although it’s not like Kerr’s shot was too confident either, according to the commentators.

Georgia Yeoman-Dale and Brenton Speed were quick to pounce on Australia’s woes with penalties which is beginning to haunt the side after they were knocked out of last years’ World Cup in a shootout.

“Sam Kerr knows she should have done better there,” Yeoman-Dale said. “She’s almost hit it down the centre of the goal. You need to be looking for corners there. It’s almost like she’s second-guessed which side she’s going.”

Speed added: “Australia have had some mental demons with penalties in recent years. Never really looked comfortable when she steps up to the spot, Sam Kerr. You give her that same situation in normal play, and she will bury it in the bottom corner. With all that time to think about it, sometimes just can’t finish it off.”

But the telling question the commentators asked was “who else but Sam Kerr?” which is a fair question.

Who else was going to stand up but Sam Kerr?

Speed said Emily van Egmond was another choice but the pair both paid tribute to Kerr for standing up, even though it didn’t end the ideal way.

It just exposed that the Matildas don’t have any genuine penalty taker, which can be costly on the biggest stages.

“You know, there’s people who are confident to take them and the hardest thing is having that confidence to step up,” Yeoman-Dale said. “So well done to Sam Kerr for having the confidence to step up, but in a big moment like this in the game, you really need someone who’s going to find the back of the net. I feel like the Aussies just don’t have anybody there at the moment who is anybody there at the moment who is a clear penalty taker.”

It brings me no joy to say this but it certainly appears something is renting space in Sam Kerr’s head and it isn’t calm confidence or killer instinct. #AUSvSWE

— Aaron Kearney (@aaronkearneyaus) July 24, 2021

Scoring penalties is too easy for Sam Kerr, she prefers to get her goals from harder opportunities

— Harry Edwards (@harryedwards16) July 24, 2021

The Matildas were knocked out of the 2019 World Cup in France after Kerr missed a penalty.

Then-coach Ante Milicic said it best when he said “only big players can miss penalties because small ones don’t take them.”

After this latest game, that is 100 per cent on the money as the Matildas wouldn’t have been in the position to challenge without Kerr, who gives the side its attacking flare.

Sam Kerr has scored three goals so far this Olympics.

But she still took the missed penalty hard at the end of the day, admitting she apologised to the team for the missed penalty.

“I thought we dominated for most of the game,” she said. “Really only three opportunities where we let them get into it and then we missed one.

“So at the end of the day we lost, so it’s disappointing, but the first 60 minutes really proud performance against a top team.

“It’s unfortunate. I thought it was a really good save. Maybe not the best pen. That’s football. I’m obviously disappointed. I apologised to the girls. At the end of the day that’s football. I’ll bounce back.”