The Matildas will survive without Sam Kerr.
Despite the FIFA 23 cover star being touted as one of the country’s all-time greats, Aussie fans have very little to worry about ahead of Paris 2024 according to former Matilda Elise Kellond-Knight.
Australia’s women are a few hours away from kicking off their Paris campaign where they’ll face the USA, Germany and Zambia in the group stage.
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They take on Germany in the early hours of Friday morning (AEST).
But Kerr won’t be there as she continues her recovery from a busted ACL.
Speaking with Wide World of Sports, Stan Sport expert Kellond-Knight said there have been a slew of players who have stood up in the wake of Kerr’s absence.
“Sam hasn’t been a key part of the team for a year now. (At) the World Cup, I wouldn’t say she was a key part of the squad’s performance there at all,” she said.
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“So I think the team has proven that they can go without her and they can be just as effective and dangerous.
“She’s a phenomenal player but I think they’ve found a way to win without her.”
There’s no doubting the impact Kerr makes on the field. However, veteran forward Michelle Heyman has stood up in the star striker’s time off.
There are still a slew of challenges to come for her though.
“The main issue was finding a goalscorer, a potent goalscorer, someone who is consistent and reliable and that’s (Michelle) Heyman,” Kellond-Knight said.
“She knows how to find the back of the net and you need a player like that who is capable of that.
“I think Mary (Fowler) is more of a creator. I think Heyman might offer us something in that realm, but she hasn’t played a top-level (match) against Germany and the USA.
“We’ve seen her against some weaker oppositions but against top level, it’s a different game.
“You probably get two chances in a game and you really get found out with your fitness. It’ll be interesting to see.”
In Kerr’s absence, Steph Catley has steered the Matildas as captain. In Paris, Ellie Carpenter and Emily van Egmond will assist as vice-captains.
Kellond-Knight said Kerr and Catley’s respective styles of captaincy are in stark contrast with each other.
“Steph has been a really great captain for the last year since Sam has been in and out with injuries. Steph has led,” she said.
“Ellie had a spell as well as captain. Ellie has stood up. She’s a very different leader from Steph. Steph is under the radar a bit more and like Sam is very composed whereas Ellie is the fireball. She’s able to rev people up and brings a lot of enthusiasm.
“I think Steph is more of a tactical-minded, composed-type leader whereas Ellie is the opposite. I think they work quite well together. Within the team, everyone has got their own formula which is going to put us in good stead.”
However, many outside the Matildas’ camp still have their doubts that the team can clinch an Olympic medal without Kerr.
American football legend Julie Foudy predicted the Matildas to progress out of their group, but then capitulate under the weight of their injury list.
“I think they can get out of their group but I think it might be a bridge too far this time without Sam Kerr, with Caitlin Foord coming off an injury, with Katrina Gorry in the midfield coming off an injury,” she said.
“I worry they don’t have the health to sustain them.
“We know you’re going to need all 16 players (this tournament). It’s a grind.”
But former Socceroos player Craig Foster has warned that anyone who has given up on the Matildas does so “at their peril”.
“Any team would prefer to have the services of the brilliant Sam Kerr, one of the world’s most feared attackers and regular nominee for world player of the year, but commentators and opponents would write off the Matildas at their peril,” he told Stan Sport in response to Foudy’s comments.
“Without Sam, let’s not forget, they were able to beat Ireland, thrash Olympic champions and world No.8 Canada by four goals, beat Denmark and defeat the world’s second-ranked team France all at last year’s World Cup.
“The team has found different solutions upfront from van Egmond to Fowler, Foord to Heyman, and the recent win against Mexico was an insight into their tactical growth and ability to play against high pressing teams — while Asian champions China presented a different problem, also solved successfully.
“The key will be injuries and fitness throughout and whether the team has a strong enough start to have the luxury to maximise freshness, particularly with so many players under injury concerns in recent months and weeks, but they have faced tournament games without Sam recently and are very confident in doing so.
“Australian fans will be focused on the steps being taken by the immensely talented Fowler and with (Cortnee) Vine and (Sharn) Freier adding to the stocks of fast, attack-minded wingers and immense experience across the backline and midfield, there is plenty of optimism.
“Their group is very tough with the world’s fourth and fifth-ranked Germany and USA so predictions are foolhardy. But one thing we know, this team has proven itself in tournament play under the most intense pressure and whoever seeks to beat them, will need to be ready for the fight of their lives.”
There were tense scenes during the Matildas’ penalty shootout win against France at last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
If it happens again, Kellond-Knight is again tipping the Matildas to get the job done.
“There’s not really anyone that’s not got enough experience,” Kellond-Knight said.
“Everyone’s got a ton of experience in their pocket after that World Cup. It’s not just match minutes, it’s key moments.
“That penalty shootout was the biggest moment you could have ever experienced in your life. If you can handle the pressure of that moment you can handle anything.
“They can win. Just having the belief you can win, that’s probably one of the biggest barriers.
“We haven’t really won any tournaments historically. Asia Cup in 2010 was a mini-tournament in America. (The) Tournament of Nations we had some good results but not under the pressure and the lights.
“We fell short at Tokyo 2020. So close but again, just off the cliff, just not quite. But I think we broke the barrier at last year’s World Cup.”
Elise Kellond-Knight and Craig Foster will appear as football experts on Stan Sport’s Olympics Daily and Paris Preview shows throughout the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
