Former New Zealand captain Bex Smith said the Matildas' thumping 4-0 win over Canada in their final pool game of the FIFA Women's World Cup will give the side the belief they can win without Sam Kerr.
Amid questions of the true nature of the Matildas skipper's calf injury, Kerr was named on the bench, but did not play against Canada, with Smith speculating that Kerr was never going to take part in the game, regardless of the Australian camp's official line.
Smith added that even if she is unable to prove her fitness and play a meaningful role in the tournament, Kerr will still play a crucial role in their World Cup campaign from the sidelines.
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"They came out all guns blazing and embarrassed a Canadian team who won the Olympics only a few years ago," Smith said on Nine's Today on Tuesday morning.
"There's been a lot of focus on Sam Kerr for this tournament, and rightly so – she is one of the world's best strikers.
"I think the team has grown in confidence over the last two games in the sense they don't need her to win games. She is a cherry on top.
"The way that they came out yesterday, they proved that they have talent."
Smith, who has 74 caps for New Zealand, said Kerr was often up and about during the Canada game, but she was unlikely ever to have played.
"You can see just her presence in the team, you could see her on the bench getting up and directing. It makes a difference to this squad," she said.
"I don't think she was ever going to play in that game. When she came out, you could see her eyes were a bit puffy. It looked like she had been crying.
"She didn't warm up with the squad, she sort of left the pitch and there was really no indication that she was going to play.
"I think (coach) Tony Gustavsson got away with this one a little bit because they were up 3-0 up and there was no need for Sam Kerr. I don't think we would have seen her anyway.
"I hope she plays. I really do. But this has brought her more time to be able to have the opportunity to play which will be so key for the Matildas team moving forward in the tournament."
The win means the Matildas top Group B, which crosses over with Group D.
The Matildas will likely take on either Denmark or China in their round of 16 clash at Stadium Australia on August 7.
Group D will be decided on Tuesday night when China take on England in Adelaide, and Denmark take on Haiti in Perth.
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