By Emma Kemp
Sam Kerr was thinking two things when she walked up to take her penalty.
The first was that she had missed a penalty at the 2019 World Cup in France, sending her spot-kick high and wide in the Matildas’ round of 16 loss to Norway.
The second was that she was not going to do that again.
“The only pen I was thinking about when I stepped up is the last World Cup when I missed,” Kerr said after Saturday night’s historic quarter-final win over France.
“It went away from my routine and what I normally did, so this time it was all about self-belief and just putting it where I normally do. It was all about routine, about focus, and sticking to my plan.”
Kerr came off the bench at Suncorp Stadium with 55 minutes gone, and not only made an immediate impact but also lasted all the way until the end of extra-time.
Sam Kerr sends some love to the crowd after Australia’s win.Credit: Getty Images
It was a far longer shift than her 15 minutes off the bench against Denmark, and indicates the calf injury that kept her out for the first three games might be consigned to the past, as Australia prepare for a semi-final showdown with England.
“It was all part of the plan,” Kerr said. “Twenty minutes against Denmark was part of the plan to get ready for this game, and I ended up playing 65 tonight. I feel better for it having had a bit more training under my belt.
“I was ready to go but we’ve had a plan this whole tournament, and we had to stick to it. I was just trying to focus on what my role is. It’s hard to come off the bench as a sub and get that focus back that I’ve missed from two weeks of not playing.
“I tried to bring energy and lift the girls. I felt the momentum swung a little bit away from us, but that’s what you have to do as a teammate – change the game and then settle into your role.”
The Matildas and Les Bleues players competing for the ball during the gritty quarter-final.Credit: Getty
For the first time since the tournament began three weeks ago, the story of the Matildas has not been a story about Kerr. This time, the narrative was about the team, with Kerr on the field for more than half of it as their captain.
As such, Kerr spoke highly of goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, who saved three penalties, along with an additional retake, and quickly regained composure despite missing her own spot-kick.
She also heaped praise on Cortnee Vine, who converted the winning penalty, and Clare Hunt, who had hers saved but has been immense all tournament.
Likewise Mary Fowler, who she said is “20 years old and she has a head on her like she’s 30 and been around the game for a hundred years”.
And she did address the emotional rollercoaster of sustaining an unexpected injury on the eve of a tournament she had been waiting to play in for three years.
“The first couple of days was obviously a bit crap, but the girls have been smashing it and the best thing about this whole tournament is that it’s taken a whole team,” she said.
Sam Kerr leads Mary Fowler, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley to celebratie the Matildas’ victory after a record-breaking penalty shootout.Credit: Getty
“It’s been an amazing journey to be a part of, and I’m so grateful I was able to be here and come back. I knew I would come back on the pitch, because I would’ve played with one calf if I had to.
“Can we go the whole way? That’s what we’re here for, but one game at a time. I probably won’t sleep tonight. We’ll enjoy it tonight and tomorrow, but we’ve got so much more to give in this tournament.”
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