Tom Sermanni on Sam Kerr’s Captaincy and the SheBelieves Cup
Sam Kerr is out due to an injury, so Steph Catley is the acting captain. Tom Sermanni, the interim coach for Australia, isn’t saying much about whether Sam will get the armband back. As the team gets ready for the SheBelieves Cup, he called the captaincy talk irrelevant. Tom Sermanni on Sam Kerr Captaincy.
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Kerr has been sidelined since January 2024 with a knee injury. She was also cleared of some allegations in London recently. Right now, the main focus is getting her healthy again, especially with the first match against Japan coming up in Houston.
Sermanni didn’t say if Kerr would regain her captain position when she’s back. He said, “What matters most is that Sam recovers quickly and safely.” He added that the captaincy isn’t something he wants to guess about since he might not be the coach when she returns.
He mentioned that whoever steps in as the new coach will handle that decision. “Right now, our focus is on the tournament,” he said.
Steph Catley’s Leadership and the Team’s Focus
While he didn’t talk much about Kerr’s role, Sermanni praised Steph Catley for stepping up as captain. “Steph has done a great job,” he said. “We need to prepare for the tournament and keep moving forward as a team.”
Australia will face Japan, the US, and Colombia in the SheBelieves Cup. Sermanni knows it’s tough to balance wanting to win while also checking out his players. “You always want to win in a tournament like this,” he noted. “But we also want strong performances to keep building team confidence.”
Testing New Players and Preparing for the Asian Cup
Sermanni highlighted the need to give younger players a shot against tough opponents. “We’re bringing in some new players to let them face high-level teams, which is important for this tournament,” he explained.
He reminded everyone that every match is part of preparing for the 2026 Asian Cup in Australia. “We want to start strong against Japan, but we also have to manage how much each player is on the field because of the quick match schedule,” he added.
Balancing Competition and Player Welfare
Sermanni said keeping players fresh and preventing injuries is a top priority. “How we use the squad will depend on how each game goes, but we want to make sure everyone plays,” he said. “At the same time, we want our players to stay healthy when they head back to their clubs.”
As the Matildas get ready for the SheBelieves Cup, Sermanni is focused on developing the team and their performance, leaving the captaincy question for later. Tom Sermanni on Sam Kerr Captaincy.
