Fearless Sam Kerr: Empowering Australia's Women's World Cup Campaign with Her Remarkable Legacy
Sam Kerr: Inspiring Australia at Women's World Cup With a legacy for both Australia and Chelsea, Sam Kerr aims to elevate women's football in her home country Don't miss the Matildas' opening match against Republic of Ireland on July 20 in the upcoming Women's World Cup 2023 hosted by Australia and New Zealand
Sam Kerr, the Chelsea striker, is already a highly recognizable figure in the global football scene. Her image is prominently displayed on billboards, advertisements, and even computer games, as she readies herself to lead Australia in their home World Cup. As she approaches the tournament, she not only harbors aspirations of victory but also understands that she is on the brink of forging a sporting legacy that countless individuals can only imagine.
She has accomplished numerous milestones by the age of 30. In her domestic career, she has triumphed in Australia and England, earning the Golden Boot in both countries and also in the USA. Additionally, she has garnered multiple Player of the Season accolades and holds the record for most goals in the NWSL.
On the international stage, Kerr is Australia's leading goal scorer of all time. She was the first Australian player to achieve a hat-trick in a World Cup match and is recognized as one of the top-rated players by FIFA.
In addition to that, leading Australia to a World Cup on their own turf presents a strong case for being one of the greatest players of this generation. However, Kerr understands that the impact of her performance extends beyond sporting achievements, as she aspires to leave a lasting legacy for greater purposes.
Kerr urged for a Cathy Freeman-esque moment for the Matildas, which she successfully achieved by leading Australia to break England's unbeaten streak of 30 games in April. Freeman's iconic triumph at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where she won the gold medal in the 400m race amidst immense pressure, became a symbol of unity for the nation and had a greater impact on participation than any political promises could ever make.
"Everyone of my generation is familiar with Cathy Freeman; they can vividly recall where they were and when she triumphantly crossed the finish line," stated Kerr. "I firmly believe that the Matildas have the potential to experience a similar awe-inspiring moment and use it as a launching pad for greater accomplishments."
Australia will kick off the World Cup in Sydney against the Republic of Ireland on July 20, playing in front of over 80,000 enthusiastic fans. Kerr hopes that this will mark a turning point for women's football, as it seeks the financial recognition it truly deserves. She expressed her concerns about the significantly higher funding allocated to other sports like AFL and rugby, emphasizing the need for money to flow into football to support the growth of the sport for girls and provide them with equal opportunities to pursue their dreams.
Kerr candidly addresses the challenges that women's soccer encounters in Australia, which is a predicament shared globally. A remarkable display on the international platform has the potential to influence the game's standing in countries beyond Australia and New Zealand.
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Kerr added: "That's the legacy we want to leave. That we inspire the nation, move the nation to believe in women's football and believe in the Matildas."
Football Australia's CEO, James Johnson, applauds Kerr's ability to freely vocalize her views, a stance uncommon amongst corporate leaders. "Sam is an exceptional individual, exhibiting commendable values both on and off the field. She actively champions significant social causes and enjoys widespread admiration in Australia," he expressed to We.
The Matildas will not only deliver great performances on the pitch, but also make important statements off it. Once consent is granted for players to freely express themselves, particularly on LGBTQI issues which are highly relevant to the team, they can fully focus on their performance.
'Big game Sam'
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Sam Kerr scored against England in a friendly earlier this year to condemn the Lionesses to their first defeat under Sarina Wiegman
Kerr's impact is not limited to off the pitch; she also excels in crucial moments on the field. She has proven herself by stepping up when Chelsea required victories for securing the title in the last two WSL seasons.
Who scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final and inflicted England's first defeat under Sarina Wiegman with the only goal? It was Kerr.
And her impact is not limited to the grass.
Drawing 0-0 at home to an unfancied Czech Republic in February, Kerr's brutally honest half-time team talk gave her side the rocket it needed.
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Sam Kerr scored for Chelsea in the Women's FA Cup final - one of the many big goals she has provided since being at the club
Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson recalls Kerr addressing her fellow Matildas: "Imagine if this were the World Cup's inaugural match, with 80,000 spectators in the arena. Instead of panicking or getting overwhelmed, stay composed and have faith in the strategy, trust in the method, and have confidence in your teammates."
The Matildas went on to win the game 4-0.
"She can be the passion and the heart of the team when needs be and drive people, demand and be that voice," admits Gustavsson.
WSL legacy already in place
Although Kerr's main focus is on Australia in the near future, she enters the tournament with the knowledge that she has already made a significant impact on the game in England.Upon joining Chelsea in late 2019, there were only a handful of world-class players in the Women's Super League.
Her big-money contract was viewed as a risk by some at a time when Chelsea were attempting to wrestle back the title from Arsenal.
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Sam Kerr helped Chelsea to a fourth successive WSL title in May
Chelsea has achieved remarkable success in recent years, having won four successive WSL titles, reached a Champions League final, and solidified their position as the top English team in the professional era. Highlighting the team's achievements, Chelsea coach Emma Hayes expressed her unwavering confidence in player Kerr, stating, "There is no player in the world that I would exchange her for." This declaration came after Kerr's outstanding performance, scoring two goals on the season's final day, which ultimately contributed to Chelsea clinching their fourth consecutive WSL title in May.
In the last three seasons in the WSL, Kerr tops the charts in a number of attacking metrics.
She has netted a remarkable 53 goals, all of which were non-penalties, while also boasting the most shots (233), shots on target (110), and successfully converting 35 big chances.
Remarkably, she has also emerged victorious in an astounding 132 aerial duels, alongside her impressive tally of 16 assists, ranking her eighth among all WSL players in the past three seasons.
There is a difference in Kerr's heatmaps for the last few years too.
Kerr's positioning on the pitch underwent a significant change in the 2020/21 season. She predominantly operated on the left flank, seldomly moving towards the right. Moreover, she displayed a notable preference for playing within the 18-yard box.
However, in the subsequent year, she shifted her focus towards the right-hand side of the field. Her involvement inside the box decreased significantly, favoring a more central position instead.
In the 2022/23 season, she showcased her greatest distribution of playing within the penalty area, extending her reach across a significant portion of the box. However, she predominantly remained centrally positioned when outside of the box, with a slight inclination towards the left side. Additionally, she has revolutionized the market for accomplished strikers in England and made a significant impact on Australian players in the WSL.
The salaries of forwards in the league now surpass those of all other players. Vivianne Miedema, Alessia Russo, and Bunny Shaw's recent contracts were influenced by the significant impact Kerr's goals and performances in important matches have had on a specific club. Additionally, twelve of Kerr's teammates in Australia's preliminary World Cup squad also competed in the WSL in the previous season, further demonstrating the impact she has on those she plays alongside.
What is the World Cup schedule?
The group stage, scheduled to start on July 20 and conclude on August 3, will have a duration of two weeks. During this time, the group winners and runners-up will advance to the round of 16, which is set to be held from August 5 to August 8.The quarter-final matches are set to take place on August 11 and 12 in Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane, and Sydney. Following this, the first semi-final is scheduled for August 15 in Auckland, while the second semi-final will be held on August 16 at the Accor Stadium in Sydney. The final match will then be played at the Accor Stadium on August 20.
A third-place play-off will be played the day before the final on August 19 in Brisbane.
