Sam Kerr, the celebrated Australian soccer star, is out. At the same time, the Matildas prepare to take on South Korea in their next two matches. Kerr has not played since tearing her anterior cruciate ligament while with Chelsea during the club’s pre-season training camp in Morocco in early 2024. Even with all of those optimistic expectations though, Chelsea haven’t really ruled her out for a return. Sadly, the Matildas go into this tournament without one of their stars.
Ahead of the tournament, Matildas coach Tom Sermanni was pretty confident about Kerr’s recovery. Yet, in reality, Chelsea’s choice trumped his enthusiasm. Sermanni knew that the most important thing for Kerr was getting back on the field with Chelsea first. Only then is she eligible to return to the Australian national team.
"Her first priority is to get her on the field at Chelsea and then hopefully she'll be available for selection for the Matildas." – Tom Sermanni
Matildas Struggle Without Kerr
Kerr’s absence has been strongly felt by the Matildas. Combined with their public collapse during their US tour in February, where they didn’t take a single point, to being sent home after the group stages of the Paris Games. These missed opportunities have resulted in the team currently placed 16th in the FIFA world rankings — their equal-worst ever ranking historically. It is in the process of navigating these challenges that, for the first time, they are doing without a permanent manager.
As the Matildas faced South Korea, they were counting on Kerr’s return to provide firepower for a deeper lineup. Now, they’re prepared to start the next chapter of their journey towards the 2026 Asian Cup. Their opening matches will be played at Allianz Stadium on April 4 and then at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium on April 7.
Adjustments to the Squad
To compensate for Kerr’s ongoing absence, Tom Sermanni has been forced to make tactical changes to the starting XI. Young centrebacks Courtney Nevin and Jamilla Rankin were re-called allowing the backline to match up more evenly with their opponents. Midfielder Clare Wheeler is expected to return after missing the last few international windows due to injury.
Additionally, A-League Women stars Holly McNamara and Michelle Heyman remain part of Sermanni's squad, providing attacking options in Kerr's absence. The team is optimistic that these changes will give them the support they need to get past their recent struggles.
Looking Ahead
As the Matildas prepare for their upcoming friendlies against South Korea. They are serious about reclaiming their status on the international stage. Still riding high on last season’s success, the squad is undefeated at home and hungry to make their mark on the league.
"Sam's still making a comeback from her knee operation a year and a bit ago," shared Sermanni, indicating patience in her recovery process.
