{"id":323095,"date":"2023-08-12T12:55:36","date_gmt":"2023-08-12T12:55:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=323095"},"modified":"2023-08-12T13:58:32","modified_gmt":"2023-08-12T13:58:32","slug":"we-got-it-right-coach-defends-kerr-bench-call","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=323095","title":{"rendered":"'We got it right': Coach defends Kerr bench call"},"content":{"rendered":"

Matildas<\/a> coach \ufeffTony Gustavsson believes the right call was made in bringing Sam Kerr<\/a> on from the bench during Australia's quarter-final win over France<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Even according to \ufeffKerr herself, the "million dollar question" heading into the match was whether she was fit to come into the starting line-up after making her return from a calf injury in the match prior.<\/p>\n

The moment ultimately came in the 55th minute with Kerr the substitute for Emily van Egmond.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Matildas triumph in shootout thriller to reach semi finals\ufeff<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> France 'furious' after Aussie star's ugly act missed<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\ufeffGALLERY:<\/strong> 'Full on' reaction to simple Sam Kerr act<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Sam<\/p>\n

Speaking to media post-match, Gustavsson said the tactical decision-making around Kerr was powerful.<\/p>\n

"The biggest decision was when to bring Sam\ufeff in. It was a massive decision even before the game to leave her on the bench," he said.<\/p>\n

"You want the timing right. I was informed that she had limited minutes for [the match] and that we needed to \ufeff[take] extra time into consideration.<\/p>\n

"So, it was not just getting her in during the second half with 45 [minutes] because maybe it could be another 30. What are the risks that she pulls the calf? How many minutes does she actually have?<\/p>\n

"That was a massive decision to get right and I think we got it right."<\/p>\n

Speaking afterward, Kerr admitted that she could have started but also agreed that the right decision was made.<\/p>\n

\"Sam<\/p>\n

"With everything that has been going on, I think the best thing for [this match] was \ufeffthe plan we had and the plan we followed," she said.<\/p>\n

"When I hurt my calf, the plan was to always be ready for the semi final and the final. So, I could have [started] but who knows what could have happened.\ufeff"<\/p>\n

The game was already on a knife edge before Kerr was brought into the fold, but the do-or-die encounter suddenly found another gear with Kerr on the loose.<\/p>\n

Making an immediate impact,\ufeff Kerr ran down the left-hand side before setting up Hayley Raso, who fired at the goal but was spectacularly saved.<\/p>\n

"We should have scored during that [period] because we really got the momentum. We did it right, we had them but then when Sam came on and we really had them on the hook," Gustavsson said.<\/p>\n

"We were very close to scoring two goals in that period but then it calmed down and I think France got the momentum back.\ufeff"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

With the match going to a penalty shootout to determine the winner, \ufeffGustavsson was pleased that after 65 minutes of play, Kerr was able to step up and score Australia's second penalty kick.<\/p>\n

"Sam was very energetic when she came in. I think she was excited," he said.<\/p>\n

"The moment and that energy also made her run a lot because the moment gets to you, you really want to go in and make an impact – which she did – but then also you could see a little bit of fatigue throughout the game which is natural. She hasn't been able to train continuously with intensity for a while.<\/p>\n

"Just the fact that she could push through and then step up as a captain, especially after our vice-captain missed the penalty kick before. She just steps up and buries it.<\/p>\n

"It's a \ufeffclassic Sam Kerr moment. She carries the team on her shoulder."<\/p>\n

With the win, the Matildas progress to the semi finals at a FIFA Women's World Cup<\/a> for the first time.<\/p>\n

"It definitely hasn't," Kerr said of whether the achievement had sunk in.<\/p>\n

\"Sam<\/p>\n

"I'm shocked, I'm happy, I'm everything. I'm all over the place and I probably won't sleep but it's exciting.<\/p>\n

"We'll enjoy it tonight and tomorrow but then we have so much more to give in this tournament.\ufeff"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Matildas coach \ufeffTony Gustavsson believes the right call was made in bringing Sam Kerr on from the bench during Australia's quarter-final win over France. Even […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":323097,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323095"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=323095"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323095\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":323102,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323095\/revisions\/323102"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/323097"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=323095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=323095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=323095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}