By Genevieve Henry and Kieran Yap 11/8/23
Above: Sam Kerr for Australia against France in July. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
Tony Gustavsson will be in two minds about starting Sam Kerr. He is not alone. Whether or not to unleash the Matildas superstar upon the French defence from the first whistle or stick to a winning formula is the talk of the nation as the quarter final approaches. Impetus Football looks at both sides of the debate.
Sam Kerr should start
By Kieran Yap
If she is fit, Sam Kerr must start against France. The Matildas have found a groove in the last month of football, and shown that they can win without her, which is as important as it is impressive, but with respect to Denmark, Canada and The Republic of Ireland, none of those teams are France.
Australia’s 1-0 defeat in an earlier friendly will give little indication over how this game will pan out, except that chances were hard to come by in that match. It will likely be the same in this historic knockout game.
In that July friendly, Kerr’s pace took her beyond the French defence on multiple occasions, and although she was pushed wide, it seemed part of an Australian game-plan to cut the ball back to midfielders or wingers cutting inside. We saw that eventually work with Mary Fowler on that occasion in Melbourne. We have seen it repeated again in two of Hayley Raso’s goals in this tournament and Emily Van Egmond’s finish against Nigeria.
Against the French defence that has already experienced this, opportunities will be at a premium, and may only present themselves in half chances. This is where Kerr comes in.
In her short cameo against Denmark, the captain looked rusty on the ball, but showed her trademark evasiveness, body work and acceleration to create one chance out of nothing. She skied that over the bar from a tight angle, but there are few players in the world capable of manoeuvring into that position and being able to get a shot away.
Against a team that will expect to dominate all three lines, one of these half chances may be all Australia gets. As she showed with a late equaliser in the quarter final win over Team GB at the Olympics, Kerr thrives on these moments, she has show it time and time again throughout her career.
Kerr also brings value to the team defensively, particularly from corners. France, and specifically Wendy Renard are deadly from set pieces. Kerr’s aerial ability can help at either end of the ground, and s whether it’s with a clearing header or staying forward on the counter attack, her very presence can alter the way France attack and defend from dead balls.
Tony Gustavsson has often brought up England’s winning campaign at the Euro’s as an example of how we wants his team to prepare. Continuity in a winning team was a feature of Sarina Wiegman’s management and Gustavsson has referenced her reluctance to change the lineup as something to be replicated.
The Matildas have had a winning lineup, but he never would have aimed to approach this tournament without Sam Kerr as a Plan A.
We then get to the next question. How does he reshuffle the rest of the team. There could be a return to the lineup that saw Australia deliver an impressive run of friendly wins. This would mean Cortnee Vine returning to the left, Caitlin Foord moving central and either Emily Van Egmond or Mary Fowler returning to the bench.
Foord’s form on the wing and links with Steph Catley have been one of the catalysts for the wins against Canada and Denmark, so moving her from there would be risky. If he was to start Kerr, It is likely that Fowler or Van Egmond would retain their position in attack. On form it should be Fowler, on chemistry and pressing ability, Van Egmond would be the strongest choice.
Kerr’s return to fitness poses questions for the home side, but more for the opposition. They will have to plan around the Chelsea superstar and Ballon D’or nominee and her involvement should remain a close secret until kickoff.
However, if she is fit, she must start. Australia do not need Sam Kerr for the games where things are going right. She is needed when things are not. There is no better player to produce a miracle in world football. This is her moment to do it at least one more time.
Sam Kerr should not start against France
By Genevieve Henry
Kerr is great at creating and finishing chances. Her presence is often enough to occupy and scare opposing defenders. But, due to her lack of minutes leading up to this all-important match, Tony Gustavsson has to weigh all of his options.
With pacey players at Australia’s disposal, the Matildas could simply wear out the French defence, and then bring on our most clinical and creative players. With average highest speeds just above 29 km/h, according to Keep up, a front four of Vine, Foord, Fowler, and Raso would absolutely exhaust the French defenders with their seemingly limitless energy. While these players are starting to reveal French weaknesses to exploit, Kerr could watch on and prepare.
In reversing the substitution made in the two sides’ last meeting, Fowler making way for Kerr could perform the same exact function. Kerr coming on the pitch would provide not only an attacking danger, but an on-field leadership boost that could inspire and calm her team. Just the image of her lacing up her boots and stepping out into the field could be a psychological threat for some already sapped players. Kerr brings so much more than her incredible qualities as a striker.
As we have seen on multiple occasions, Wendie Renard facing Kerr is an intense, well-fought battle. Not only for their respective countries, but for Chelsea and Olympique Lyonnais as well. In most of their recent meetings, Kerr came out on top with the winning team. Now imagine a Renard who has had to quell attacks from a tricky Foord, who famously gives her nightmares, a speedy Vine, a magical Fowler, and an on-form Raso. With all of her experience, it’s hard to see a future where that all works out in Renard’s favour.
France, in similar fashion to Australia, plays with attacking wing-backs in Ève Pérriset and Sakina Karchaoui. This adventurous tactic leaves gaps that Australian fans know all too well for wingers to take on a weakened French defence. The Matildas are known for their excellent counter-attacking football, and this situation sets up perfectly for that style of play. If Ellie Carpenter can play more reserved than usual in order to avoid that same opening for France’s wingers, this could work wonderfully. Whether Kerr is on the pitch yet or not, letting our attackers take on the field and cause chaos for France will open up pathways to goal that can be easily capitalised on. Excelling in quick transitional play, Raso and Vine can bring the ball up the field and send it to whoever the striker, or strikers, is. Doing this all game will surely tire out the defenders and make Kerr’s job a little bit easier, allowing more open and team play.
If Kerr is brought on at around the 60th minute, she can wreak havoc on a fatigued French defence.
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