Sam Kerr hits Jamaica for four, as Matildas progress to Round of 16 at World Cup

Is that Daniel Kerrs sister

Well all three games contributed obviously. And as clipper says ultimately it was the loss to Australia, as head to head would have seen them pipped even if they made 1 up on goals scored. Point is being eliminated in such a manner would equal a lot of soul searching and “what ifs”

Not negatives, Middy. Realistic feedback about what I saw today & what I've seen from the nations who are standing out. If you get a chance, listen to Milicic's official FIFA post-match presser. He clearly knows things need to improve if we want to get further. On today's performance, we'll be catching the next plane home.

Thanks for that insight Griffo.

It was losing to Australia that was the deciding factor, but very tight top 3 in the group - good for toughening up the team.

Better than the Australians? You're 'avin' a larf.

Across the 90 minutes, the majority of the Jamaicans were woeful. There is no other description for it.

loved the match... not sure why some are seeing so many negatives...

Sheek, I think you have read it pretty correctly.

Unfortunately it is 3am on the Western seaboard. But I do like the fact I can watch a recording early-ish, say 7am like today, and successfully avoid hearing the result beforehand. Go Matildas!

No, they were pipped by the fact that they scored fewer goals against Jamaica (3) than Australia did (4), and by the fact that they lost to Australia (scoring only 2 goals against Australia than the 3 Australia scored against them).

What a match from Sam Kerr. Such an intelligent player, she is always in the right place at the right time. And the pressure she put on to force the 4th goal could end up being key to the Matildas chances of making the last 8. Norway next round are difficult opponents, no doubt of that but they also are not France. I've enjoyed watching young Roestbakken at left back but as others pointed out, midfield is a concern heading into the Norway match. What an even group but Australia got out of it, now the tournament really begins.

I think that’s changing, if not already changed. In the junior divisions, teams are mixed (girls & boys). Not sure if that is world-wide but certainly is the case in Australia and the UK. Club academies all, or those I’m aware of anyway, have girls programs. The new A League academies include women, certainly at most clubs, and women were part of the AIS programme before it folded, and the State sports academies programmes (ongoing). While the wages are not as high, these girls are full time footballers. Many play in two Leagues to keep their wages up. That is the great difficulty with women’s football, many of the players don’t have an off-season and, with representational commitments, play all year round. While plenty of the Matildas play in the NWSL (US) I’m not aware of any taking up US College scholarships (like say, basketballers). Maybe some do, but the opportunities for development in Australia are getting better every season, and are pretty good anyway.

Alex Morgan said in an interview that she did track, volleyball, etc. but soccer was what she loved and recommends kids do multisports (mainly to avoid burnout and enjoy playing as an adult). I think the technical development is still needed but cross-training avoids repetative strain injuries and helps overall development just not in isolation to football itself. Still it appears that just being a fit, fast runner isn't going to get you far, even in the women's game. And there is the emergence of Europe with embedded football culture that will level the playing field for the likes of the USA with a large soccer base for girls, with multi-world cup winning national team for inspiration.

I thought maybe Mary Fowler might have come on instead of Raso but I think that was telling at the pressure Jamaica were exerting during that period and how we really did want to avoid France (from third place). I can't see where Fowler might come in at this point for the Norway game given Raso and Gielnik have right-midfield/attacker locked in. Fowler a good chance of finishing the tournament still not locked in to Australia even though she is doing well...

Great win, not sure we were going to get more than 2-3 goals at one stage. Not the best performance and Ante eluded to as much during press conference. We just keep turning the ball over cheaply from defence - we just cannot nail the pass into midfield or our midfielders are too advanced, probably both - and a better team would have punished us more than once. I think KK was rested given her lack of game time and putting in a 90 minute effort against Brazil. van Egmond made some really poor decisions and got shut down a few times. It looks like a confidence issue as she is a good, technical player but a few times just tried to pass through a player when they were close. It wouldn't surprise me if KK took on the DM over van Egmond who probably won't but may sit out the match. That is if Ante sticks with Roestbakken at LB. Gielnik either is a little nervous or lacking a little fitness in comparison to some of the home series vs Chile, but has done alright. It will just depend on how people pull up (Yallop) while some were rested (Foord, Raso). At this point: Williams Carpenter Kennedy Catley Roestbakken Yallop KK Logarzo Raso Kerr Foord or KK will go LB for Roestbakken and van Egmond in DM. There are a couple of days less rest as well.

I wouldn't be surprised if Carpenter is young player of the World Cup. Stands out every game so far.

Congratulations Sam Kerr, four goals in a World Cup match is a great achievement and will probably never be repeated by an Australian, male or female. But still there are many warning flags waving for the Matildas. No team in the knockout phase is going to allow Sam that much space in the box. It just won’t happen. So we had better keep working on other routes to goal than high crosses from out wide. And we better tidy up our passes if we want to keep playing the possession game (which I thought made our game plan look a bit meaningless this morning, pass-pass-pass-pass-long ball). We give the ball away too, still, often with poor passing , or is it just slackness? I’m looking at you Emily. I hope Clare Polks and KK are fit for Sunday, and Emily Van Egmond is moved forward. Really impressed with the young LB Roestbakken, but fear Anton is locked in with the older, established players. There’s some talented youth in our squad but looks like they’ll only be used if the coach runs out of alternatives. Credit to Jamaica by the way, they outmuscled and outran us time and again. They just need better finishers.

The standard is far from outstanding, women dont get the same opportunity and level of training when their young. Its clearly below even A-league standard. Most u17 mens representative players would have done more training than most of the women at the world cup no matter throughout their whole career. Gymnastics is the area where women far exceed men in training and skill, you dont see men doing the balance beam or rythmic gymnastics. They would have no chance. Extra power and speed they can do more tumbles and strength stuff. The women in gymnastics start younger and train enormous hours to get that skill and the level has declined since the days of the old Eastern Bloc in normal. Women are usually second priority for sports training by their parents. Participation sports where you have big numbers playing and training once a week are not producing the elite level. Having 36 blokes running around chasing a ball is a waste of time. The best in Australia are produced in the backyard generally. Women in the US play basketball as well though in the US the emphasis in schools was on cheerleading rather than womens sport. US biggest advantage they had was colleges having scholarships for women in sport, unlike tennis you dont get big money in the womens.

Sheek, I never thought I'd see this, but watching France I saw their coach on the sideline in the technical area, in heels. Yep, high heels, What class. If you don't love women's football, you just ain't living.