England coach Sarina Wiegman has ramped up the stress on Sam Kerr, saying “everyone” expects the Matildas captain to ship towards the Lionesses in Wednesday evening’s FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final at Stadium Australia.
Kerr scored towards England in a 2-0 Matildas win in a London pleasant in April, however has been restricted in her World Cup output – up to now – on account of a calf damage that sidelined her for Australia’s complete Group B marketing campaign.
The star Chelsea striker has come off the bench within the Matildas’ previous two video games and was among the many Australians to seek out the again of the web in her aspect’s 7-6 penalty shootout quarter-final weekend win over France in Brisbane
Whether she is going to begin towards England stays unknown, however Wiegman stated England had deliberate for all choice situations.
“Australia is not just Sam Kerr,” the Lionesses’ coach stated.
“Yes we have a plan. She can play (from the opening whistle) and she can start on the bench, so that’s the situation.
“Of course she’s a threat – she’s a very good player, so lots of respect, but there is more than Sam Kerr.
“In the end, it’s always a team performance. When a team does really well, and individual can do even better. That’s the same for Australia, that’s the same for England.”
However, Wiegman took the possibility to remind Kerr that she was carrying the load of a nation on her shoulders.
“There’s a lot of pressure on her because everyone expects things from her,” she stated of Kerr.
“(But) Australia grew in the tournament too. They had some disappointing situations that they had to come back from and they did really well. We expect a very strong Australia.”
England captain and defender Millie Bright, a membership teammate of Kerr’s at Chelsea, stated there was extra to the Matildas than simply their skipper.
“Everyone knows (Kerr) pretty well on a worldwide stage,” Bright stated.
“It’s pretty hard not to know Sam and her abilities but there are other players in the team.
“We’ve prepared to play against Australia, We know everyone’s individual traits, their strengths and weaknesses.”
Wiegman stated the Lionesses had learnt their classes from their loss to the Matildas 4 months in the past.
It’s the one defeat the European champions have suffered below Wiegman, who took cost of England in August 2020.
“That game … gave us a lot of information,” Wiegman stated.
“We learnt from that. We have that knowledge now, we have the experience, and it’s really good to have that experience and take that with us (into the semi-final).
“Also, we’ve analysed Australia during the tournament, so we’re very well prepared for what they want to do, and how they want to play.
“We are ready for it.”
Originally printed as England coach reminds Sam Kerr she’s carrying the load of a nation on her shoulders
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
