KERR BLIMEY!
SUPER SAM TO THE FOUR
INSPIRATIONAL. Incredible. Insane.
Sam Kerr’s virtuoso fourgoal game to send Australia into the knockout stage in France has been hailed as one of the best individual performances at a World Cup.
The West Australian soared for two first-half headers before settling the contest with two close-range finishes in the second half.
“And I actually wanted more after that, being my selfish self,” she said.
Kerr has scored better goals than her fourth effort — when she pounced on a calamitous mis-kick by Jamaica goalkeeper Nicole McClure — but she might not have scored a more important one.
Australia was leading 3-1 at the time but was in third place in the group and headed for a meeting with world No.2 Germany or tournament favourite and host France.
Instead, the goal bumped the Matildas above Brazil in Group C to set up a roundof-16 clash with Norway.
“At the time I didn’t know how important it was,” she said of her fourth goal. “I knew every goal would count and I’m just happy we could get that second spot.”
The Australian captain’s haul is the latest memorable achievement of an exhilarating World Cup campaign for the Matildas.
First came the tragedy of Valenciennes, where they conceded a goal five minutes into stoppage time to lose 2-1 to Italy.
Then, Australia staged the equal-greatest World Cup comeback for a 3-2 win over Brazil dubbed the Miracle of Montpellier.
Yesterday morning, Kerr produced a four-goal, onewoman show worthy of the world’s attention.
After the Brazil match, she let loose with her now iconic cry of “suck on that one”.
In Grenoble, she did her talking on the pitch.
“It’s an amazing feeling. I feel pretty honoured just to score at a World Cup ... I guess that’s something I will tell my kids when I get older,” she said.
“I’m obviously pretty excited I could score and help the team out. “I feel relieved.” Matildas coach Ante Milicic could hardly find the words to describe Kerr’s big night out.
“She’s an inspirational leader,” he said. “We as an Australian footballing community should be thankful that we’re witnessing one of the best players in the world.
“It’s history, as an Australian player at a World Cup to do what she’s done.
“All the accolades must go to Sam but also the service she got throughout the game from the rest of the team.”
If there was one thing missing, it was a backflip.
Kerr laughed off her missing trademark celebration. “The most important thing, like I always say, is the team,” she said.
“I actually wanted more, I was trying to get them to cross it in more, play quicker; I just wanted to get more goals because we didn’t know what was going on in the other game.”