Lack of respect not good: Kerr
Matildas star Sam Kerr (pictured) has slammed Brazil for not respecting Australia after they recorded their third win in a row against the South Americans on Tuesday night in Newcastle.
Kerr’s two goals were the highlight of a 3-2 victory in front of almost 16,000 fans, but the game became fractious towards the end and a number of the Brazilian players refused to shake hands with their Australian counterparts after the final whistle.
Kerr said the game had become heated late on, but was bemused by the reaction of Brazil’s players – born in part from Australia “getting under their skin” thanks to the trio of victories Alen Stajcic side has enjoyed this year.
Asked if the post-game scenes proved Brazil were affected by the loss, Kerr’s response was emphatic.
“Did you see the game? I think so,” she said.
“Not shaking hands, that’s not an Australian thing.
“I’m not really going to comment on it because it’s not something I don’t really like, but whatever.
“It was disappointing to see. We think of them as a very highly respectable team and I don’t think we got the respect we deserved after the last three performances.”
Brazil had actually taken the lead inside the first minute, clearly stung by last Saturday’s 2-1 loss in Penrith, and Kerr said that served as a motivating force for the Aussie women.
“I actually turned around to the girls and said, ‘This is good because that happened in the Tournament of Nations (last month) and we won 6-1’.
“I was just trying to keep us mentally strong and keep the girls pumped up, but it turned around and that’s the main thing.”