Sam Kerr will not jeopardize the Matildas’ World Cup chances by protesting FIFA’s decision to ban captains from wearing the One Love rainbow armband.
The sport’s governing body last week unveiled eight armbands with social messages that captains can wear during the tournament in Australia.
Kerr did not expect to be able to wear the rainbow armband, so the FIFA decision did not come as a surprise to the Australian captain.
“We’d love to wear them,” the Matildas superstar said Monday.
“Like most teams around the world, they have all expressed that they would love to use it.”
However, Kerr believed that the risk of receiving a yellow card for wearing the armband was too great.
Matilda captain Sam Kerr said the players would love to wear the One Love armband but don’t want to risk a yellow card at the World Cup.
The controversial One Love captain’s armband that was banned in the men’s World Cup in Qatar and now in the women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand
Kerr and his partner, Kristie Mewis, were once rivals on the pitch, but have now struck up a romance together.
Meanwhile, Kerr knows the heat will come at his fourth World Cup.
The Matildas enter their local tournament with high expectations and huge crowds at their backs that will only add to the spotlight.
But superstar forward and captain Kerr has never been more prepared to handle it.
“There’s always going to be pressure in the sport,” Kerr told reporters at the team’s announcement Monday.
“Anytime there’s a big game, a big moment, if there’s no pressure, it probably means it’s not that big of a game to be honest.”
“So I think pressure is a privilege and I love pressure. I love being in a moment where one or two moments can change the path, your career really, and I think this World Cup is one of those moments.
“It’s exciting, but I think we all deal with pressure differently and we have some new kids in the team.
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‘It’s just about living in the moment. Not everything will be roses and butterflies during this World Cup.
“There will be tough times and that’s how we stick together, we stick to our principles, we stick to what we believe in and we’ll come out on the other side.”
Kerr is a much more relaxed character heading into his fourth World Cup.
“For me, it’s about staying in the moment and enjoying it,” said the 29-year-old.
“The biggest regret for me from the last few World Cups I’ve been to is getting caught up in things, getting caught up in a bad pass, bad touch.”
Australia’s star forward is destined to be a major target throughout the tournament at home, with defenses trying to isolate her and limit opportunities.
Kerr can’t wait for the World Cup to start on home soil and is focused on the task at hand for the Matildas.
The alternative bracelets that FIFA will allow the captains to wear in the Women’s World Cup
But with Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso and Cortnee Vine around him, Kerr will appreciate more attention around goal.
“That’s the best thing about being a striker,” he said.
“They can isolate me for 90 minutes, but I really only need one chance, and I think over the last year playing for Chelsea I really focused on that.”
I’ve been very, very isolated, but I’ve been able to work to be alive in that time, and I feel like at Chelsea I’ve really succeeded.
“I was the kid 12 years ago going to my first World Cup and I knew they were looking at other players – Lisa De Vanna, Sarah Walsh – and I was like, ‘Oh, this is my chance to do something.
‘If two people are guarding me, that means someone else is free, so it could be someone else’s tournament to shine and that’s part of being on the team.
“Whatever it takes to win, honestly, and if I take out two guys, we’ve got electric speed on everyone else and good luck to them.”
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