The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will be different for the Australia Women’s national team as they will be hosting the tournament alongside neighbours New Zealand.
The Matildas have featured at the World Cup six times previously, their best run being three consecutive quarter-final apperances between 2007 and 2015 after three group stage exits between 1995 and 2003.
Playing on home soil gives Australia the opportunity to go beyond the quarter-finals this time. They have also been paired with Nigeria, the Republic of Ireland and Canada in Group B and are favourites to finish in top spot.
However, their fate and hopes of a good World Cup outing will rest on one player in captain Sam Kerr.
Sam Kerr has every kind of goal in her locker. ????????????@samkerr1 | #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/ViQTyuQVhD
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) April 21, 2023
Her professional career started in 2008 when she made her debut for the Perth Glory in the Australian W-League at the age of 15. Kerr’s remarkable performances earned her the Young Player of the Year award in her debut season. She spent six seasons with the Perth Glory, becoming the club’s all-time leading goal-scorer and a fan favourite.
Kerr had spells with Sydney FC and Western New York Flash in between her six years at Perth Glory before moving to the United States in 2015 and playing Sky Blue FC and the Chicago Red Stars.
It is however Kerr’s move to Chelsea in 2020 that shot her to global fame as she made instant impact in West London, leading them to the Women’s Super League title in her first season and three more titles in succession including the just-concluded 2022-23 season. Altogether, Kerr has won 10 domestic titles with Chelsea and was close to UEFA Women’s Champions League glory in 2021 but lost out to Barcelona Femeni. This is an incredible feat for a player who has spent just three years in the British capital.
Kerr stands out as a top player for her goalscoring exploits, netting 86 goals while plying her trade in her home country, 58 of them with Perth Glory. She scored 67 goals while in the United States and has found the back of the net 90 times in 116 games for Chelsea.
It is therefore no surprise Kerr will be the centre of attention for Australia because she stands out from the rest of the squad. She has been with the Matildas since 2009 and has earned 120 caps, scoring 63 goals. She is a two-time AFC Women’s Asian Cup champion, winning the 2022 edition in India where she was top scorer with seven goals.
???????? ???? Will we see Sam Kerr topping this table soon…?#FIFAWorldCup x #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/aHd3m6U4mh
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) April 12, 2023
Kerr will be making her fourth Women’s World Cup appearance at the age of 29. Her best outing was at the last edition in France where she scored five goals including four in a 4-1 bashing of Jamaica in the group stage. Australia however could go no better than the round of 16 as they lost on penalties to Norway.
Home advantage this time however gives Kerr and the Australian ladies the chance to write their names into the annals of football history.
