‘No question whatsoever’: Matildas coach delivers big call on Kerr selection
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has declared star striker Sam Kerr will start for Australia against France on Saturday – if her recovering calf can survive at least 90 minutes.
Whether to play Kerr from the opening whistle in the FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-final at Suncorp Stadium has been debated all week considering the Matildas captain has tasted a total of less than 20 minutes of action in the four matches Australia has played in the tournament.
The Matildas have also shown they can win without Kerr, who missed her side’s three Group B games before coming on as a late substitute in Australia’s 2-0 round-of-16 win over Denmark when the match was already in her team’s keeping.
However, Gustavsson will have no hesitation tinkering with a winning combination if all of Kerr’s required fitness boxes are ticked.
“I definitely would never see Sam as a disturbance to the team,” Gustavsson said on Friday.
“If Sam is fit to play 90 minutes, she is starting. There’s not even a question, and the team knows it. We’re talking about Sam Kerr here.
“Whether she is ready to play 90 minutes, plus extra-time, that’s to be decided (on Friday night, but there’s no question whatsoever that if she is, she’s starting.”
If Kerr does start, it;’s likely that either Emily van Egmond or Mary Fowler would be dropped to the bench.
Gustavsson was adamant there would be no backlash from any of his players over team selection.
“The one thing that his team has shown over the last half a year is that no matter what line-up we start with or the line-up we finish with … everyone is ready to step on, and off too.” he said.
“They’ve been amazing teammates supporting each other. There have been no complaints whatsoever in terms of if you start or come
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