Kerr truth brave Matildas can’t deny; glaring question World Cup emphatically answered: Talking Pts

The Matildas faced an uphill task as soon as they found out Sam Kerr would be absent from their opening Women’s World Cup fixture against Ireland.

But Tony Gustavsson’s troops displayed a steely side that helped them get the better of a feisty Irish outfit in a gritty 1-0 victory.

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Without Kerr up front, it meant the attack would have to find a new way to get the desired result but it was far from pretty.

However Gustavsson was quick to point out that in tournament football, three points is as valuable as anything as the Matildas now gear up for their second Group B fixture against Nigeria on July 27.

Foxsports.com.au analyses the big moments from the Matildas’ World Cup opener in TALKING POINTS!

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MATILDAS MOTIVATED BY KERR INJURY

The Matildas have plenty of motivation. There’s the chance to make history – not just to go beyond the quarterfinals for the first time ever, but to win a maiden Cup. And to do it on home soil too. It’s a chance to deliver their own ‘Cathy Freeman moment’ and a lasting legacy on the Australian sporting landscape.

But the injury to captain Sam Kerr only adds another level of motivation for the Matildas, who were honest about the emotional impact of losing their