No matter the state of the calf muscle the Australian camp and coach Tony Gustavsson were so secretive about during the group stage, Sam Kerr showed enough against France to demand a spot on the pitch from the outset against the Lionesses tonight in the World Cup semi-final.
Essentially, there is no tomorrow for the Matildas without a conquering of today and whilst France and Denmark were navigated with Kerr playing from the bench, clocking up some kilometres in her legs after succumbing to injury prior to the group stage of the tournament, the English will need to have the kitchen sink thrown at them if they are to be toppled.
England are a powerhouse team and should be favourites to raise the trophy on Sunday night after the early exits of Netherlands and USA helped their cause. Now Spain await the winner of the second semi in the World Cup Final and the Aussies are realistically on the third line of betting despite the obvious home turf advantage they enjoy.
Sam Kerr. (Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images)
For Gustavsson, this could well be the moment where he needs to send Kerr into the fray from the off, with eyes firmly on the match that could actually win the Matildas the World Cup and not the pending final against Spain, should fortune turn in their favour.
It would no doubt be a risk, although Kerr clocked near 70 minutes against the French and certainly looked good early after entering the match sooner than many believed she would. Gustavsson may have had concerns around Kerr when the additional 30 minutes of extra-time became a reality, yet his superstar stayed in the contest right until the final whistle and even knocked home a penalty when most needed during the epic shootout.
The Lionesses have conceded just two goals through their first five matches of the World Cup and their three at the back defensive set-up has proven effective, thanks to the opportunity to overload in attack and dominate play in the midfield.
Whilst the Matildas have been scoring freely with nine goals thus far, the poor performance against Nigeria, no goals against France before the now famous penalty shootout and a somewhat unconvincing effort against Republic of Ireland in their opening match, suggests the locals will need to be far better to break down the team most likely to lift the trophy.
I hope Gustavsson is a Kenny Rogers fan. Knowing when to fold them and when to hold them is a critical skill when it comes to being a successful football manager. There is always a moment to gamble – not recklessly, but with an informed level of chance, where the possibilities far outweigh the potential failings.
Should the Swede play conservatively and rely on Hayley Raso, Caitlin Foord and Mary Fowler to bear the load in the semi-final, as he was right to do in the quarter-final against France, he may well miss the chance to grasp greatness.
Tony Gustavsson. (Photo by Richard Callis/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
An early goal to the Lionesses would forever instil thoughts of ‘what if’, for the man who has done an excellent job in keeping his team up for the task at hand throughout the tournament.
What if I threw Sam at them from the start and made them accountable at the back? Did I err in not ensuring they thought defensively thanks to the presence of my gun player? Did I free them up in attack by holding Sam back and leave her far too much to do in the second half after the English lead was established?
Alternatively, Gustavsson could throw Kerr in from the get go, risk further injury, but go for glory just as the Australian psyche has traditionally demanded.
Personally, I think the latter is the way that Gustavsson should head – in full knowledge the Matildas are not the favourites to win the World Cup or even this semi-final, but also aware a stunning win off the back of a vintage Kerr performance could well see them a 50/50 bet in the final against Spain.
It could well be the greatest risk he ever takes. One that could fail dismally should a calf twinge end her campaign, or one that brings Australia a place in the World Cup Final and one of its greatest sporting moments of all-time.
Go on Tony, do it. She is the weapon we need to beat the old enemy and the nation that arrogantly claims to be the ‘home’ of football.
Godspeed Matildas, play well and do us proud.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Ooooft, the time is nigh. I'm off to the stadium. What a night this will be. Roar Editor Tony Harper will call the game tonight.
Cavaquinho
Roar Rookie
A high proportion of goals are scored at the end of each half so there is also an argument to start her at 40 minutes.
Cavaquinho
Roar Rookie
So true. There are plenty of people who wish Chidiac got game time in the last three matches and Grant seemed hard done by after some underwhelming performances by Carpenter, but here we are. As they say, “football is a game of opinions”.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Cad programming?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Fair summation.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
I hope you’re right sheek. A similar scenario about 2 years ago for Tottenham when they played their unfit half injured superstar Harry Kane in the champions league final and it was a disaster, because a half fit player can’t impact the game and get into the right positions. Anyhow it’s all guesswork for us and I hope you’re right .
Kangas
Roar Rookie
This game is going to be won and lost through the middle, gorry and Cooney Cross up against Stanway and Walsh , I feel like our centre mids we’re starting to come unstuck against France , the English coach will expecting to get some joy playing through. . Foord will come up against Lucy bronze who is one of the worlds best . Maybe we can get some cut through via raso on the right . Anyway, I’m no expert and I’m sure the coach is aware of England strength and our players weaknesses. I probably should have just summed it up by saying it’s not all about Kerr .
CW Moss
Roar Rookie
Yes, Kangas, I know very little about Soccer, but I see us lose the ball in mid-field all the time. So far so good. :stoked: :football:
Waz
Roar Rookie
Sorry, didn’t mean to be critical of Raso (who is one of my fav’s). The point I wanted to make earlier was, to get the best out of Sam she should play alongside fully fresh/fit players ie start her !
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
Bring her on 2nd half against tiring defence
TinRattler
Roar Rookie
My daughters say Cooney cross is the best player in the world. My daughters want to play next year 6 and 5 and that's thanks to the Tillie's
TinRattler
Roar Rookie
Kerr isn't that great her midfield makes her look great
TinRattler
Roar Rookie
Kerr off the bench against tired soapdodgers
Aiden
Roar Rookie
I’m swept up in this WC and have loved watching the National team play for years. I’m also happy about the impact on woman’s football. But I won’t be watching the A League women’s or paying for a subscription to watch the women’s EPL. I don’t think that is misogyny, just a choice about what sport I choose to watch.
Aiden
Roar Rookie
Despite last nights outcome I’m much happier with Spain as an opponent IF we get to a final. They come out and play, like France, which will suit our counter attack style. Sweden would have been very hard for us to breakdown in my opinion.
Aiden
Roar Rookie
She’s a better finisher but is she better at creating chances, especially with less mobility perhaps and less playing time with her teammates. I feel with Kerr at the moment, the choice is between making less chances and hopefully scoring one of the few (a lot of pressure on her to do that) or creating more chances that a number of players may score off, despite missing a few.
Aiden
Roar Rookie
I think same as last game. Kerr had plenty of time, and she came on fresh and there was an impact. Have her run at tired opponents. Otherwise, go with what has worked. There is a lot in continuing with a settled lineup that has been working. On the other hand … didn’t score in 120 min did we!!! Who’d be a coach.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
TG has said publicly if fit SK starts. Time to trust the system and let the medical team do it's thing
pacman
Roar Rookie
It is most unlikely that Sam Kerr is match fit. So to start her and then have to sub her off at a critical stage of the match could have disastrous consequences. Start her at 50 or 55. Plenty of time to work her magic if she is up to it, and if it is needed.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i dont follow any form of womens sport including football, im just not a fan of any of it - but no doubt i'll be labelled by some clown on social media a mysoginist because im a male and wont/dont/cant support womens sport. (even though ive shown nothing to even be labelled as that) you'll find a lot of die hard male supporters of football, dont even care about the womens version of it - like i said above, im in montenegro currently and have barely heard the womens world cup mentioned. thats partially because of how low womens football is viewed in the balkans, even though there were players in this tournament from the balkans (eg swedens goalkeeper and switzerlands stiker) as a side note, i was actually introduced to the head of womens football here in montenegro over the weekend. - had an interesting chat about how montenegro has the best womens football set up in the balkans (you'd think it would be serbia and croatia, but its not) the leagues been going on here for over a decade, but has nowhere near the funding (seems to be a similar story around the world including australia) it's ok as a man to say you dont like womens sports - absolutely nothing wrong with it. and im sure in england the premier league is getting way more coverage then the womens team being in the semis in saying all that i hope australia wins the world cup (which is what i said pre tournament)