Matildas captain Sam Kerr is desperate to break her World Cup scoring duck – but if her drawing a blank means other players get the chance to be on the scoresheet then she will be just as happy.
The biggest name in the Australian women's game will take the field in her third World Cup when she leads the Matildas out against Italy on Sunday evening, and even she admits that she has felt the pressure intensify in recent months.
But, she says, her concerns mean little when the prospect is there for the Matildas to go all the way in the biggest tournament in women's soccer.
Sam Kerr wants to score her first World Cup goal in her third appearance at the tournament. Credit:AAP
''Every time I step on to the field I want to score for my country.
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''To do it in a World Cup would be a dream come true.
''I haven't done that. But I feel like I am a different player this World Cup. I feel like I am a different person, I feel like I am better prepared. I know more about the game, about my own game, and I feel like I am just smarter
''If I don't score and we win the World Cup and I don't score I will be happy. It's not about me this World Cup, it's about the team and I hope to add some goals on the scoreboard . But if I don't the win tomorrow is the most important thing.
''To be at my third World Cup is going to be amazing.
''The most pressure I feel is from myself, I put a lot of pressure on myself to score goals, not let the team down, have an impact.
''I try to keep it mostly about the team. But there is going to be a bit of pressure on me.
'' I felt a little bit more interest, I guess, from other players and other teams that I have played in recently. But I see it as a positive for our team.
''If people are worried about me then we have Caitlin Foord, Lisa De Vanna, Hayley Raso, take your pick, there are five others you could name that can open up defences.''
Expectation on the Matildas to go deep into this tournament is strong in Australia, but Kerr counsels caution. She has been around too long in the game, despite her tender years, to know that anything can happen in tournament play.
Illustration: Matt DavidsonCredit:
''We don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves. We have got the first game to win first and get out of the group.
''The World Cup, crazy things have happened. We are really focused on this first game, getting the first few points. We are really confident in ourselves that we can go as far as we have ever been. Our plan is to make the final.
''But our focus is the first game. We can't start talking about quarter finals, round of 16 until we have won this first game, won the second game and then dealt with the Read More – Source
Matildas captain Sam Kerr is desperate to break her World Cup scoring duck – but if her drawing a blank means other players get the chance to be on the scoresheet then she will be just as happy.
The biggest name in the Australian women's game will take the field in her third World Cup when she leads the Matildas out against Italy on Sunday evening, and even she admits that she has felt the pressure intensify in recent months.
But, she says, her concerns mean little when the prospect is there for the Matildas to go all the way in the biggest tournament in women's soccer.
Sam Kerr wants to score her first World Cup goal in her third appearance at the tournament. Credit:AAP
''Every time I step on to the field I want to score for my country.
Advertisement
''To do it in a World Cup would be a dream come true.
''I haven't done that. But I feel like I am a different player this World Cup. I feel like I am a different person, I feel like I am better prepared. I know more about the game, about my own game, and I feel like I am just smarter
''If I don't score and we win the World Cup and I don't score I will be happy. It's not about me this World Cup, it's about the team and I hope to add some goals on the scoreboard . But if I don't the win tomorrow is the most important thing.
''To be at my third World Cup is going to be amazing.
''The most pressure I feel is from myself, I put a lot of pressure on myself to score goals, not let the team down, have an impact.
''I try to keep it mostly about the team. But there is going to be a bit of pressure on me.
'' I felt a little bit more interest, I guess, from other players and other teams that I have played in recently. But I see it as a positive for our team.
''If people are worried about me then we have Caitlin Foord, Lisa De Vanna, Hayley Raso, take your pick, there are five others you could name that can open up defences.''
Expectation on the Matildas to go deep into this tournament is strong in Australia, but Kerr counsels caution. She has been around too long in the game, despite her tender years, to know that anything can happen in tournament play.
Illustration: Matt DavidsonCredit:
''We don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves. We have got the first game to win first and get out of the group.
''The World Cup, crazy things have happened. We are really focused on this first game, getting the first few points. We are really confident in ourselves that we can go as far as we have ever been. Our plan is to make the final.
''But our focus is the first game. We can't start talking about quarter finals, round of 16 until we have won this first game, won the second game and then dealt with the Read More – Source
