Sam Kerr says the Matildas won't be dwelling on their 3-0 humbling by the Netherlands as they refocus their sights on next Sunday's World Cup opener.
Australia was second-best in Eindhoven early on Sunday (AEST), where the Dutch scored three terrific goals – a brace from Shanice van der Sanden and another from Vivianne Miedema.
Lieke Martens and Shanice van de Sanden celebrate after another Netherlands goal as Sam Kerr looks on in dismay.Credit:AAP
The Matildas have now conceded eight goals in two friendly losses ahead of their World Cup opener with Italy.
"It was a wake up call and we have a lot of work to do," Kerr said. "But we'd rather have our bad games now than in a week's time. It was a good test (and) we'll be be ready for it in game one."
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Yet, if coach Ante Milicic was looking for excuses, he had a few. Crucial midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight was out with a calf issue, and in her place Milicic gave minutes to attack-minded players Chloe Logarzo and Tameka Yallop rather than reinforcing his midfield. Fullback Steph Catley, who struggled, was playing just her second match in three months after injuries.
Other Matildas may still have been carrying weary legs from their intensive 10-day training campaign in Turkey, which wrapped up just prior to the Dutch rout.
Kerr said her side would be better for the run. "I just think in critical moments the situation got the better of us. I don't think we got outplayed completely," Kerr said. "It was a really big learning curve for us. That's what the crowds are going to be like in France and I think we let it get the better of us but I'm really proud of the girls, we kept fighting to the end."
Kerr comes in for close attention from the Dutch defence ahead of the Matildas' World Cup opener. Credit:AAP
Clare Polkinghorne agreed, saying "it wasn't a 3-0 game". &quRead More – Source
Sam Kerr says the Matildas won't be dwelling on their 3-0 humbling by the Netherlands as they refocus their sights on next Sunday's World Cup opener.
Australia was second-best in Eindhoven early on Sunday (AEST), where the Dutch scored three terrific goals – a brace from Shanice van der Sanden and another from Vivianne Miedema.
Lieke Martens and Shanice van de Sanden celebrate after another Netherlands goal as Sam Kerr looks on in dismay.Credit:AAP
The Matildas have now conceded eight goals in two friendly losses ahead of their World Cup opener with Italy.
"It was a wake up call and we have a lot of work to do," Kerr said. "But we'd rather have our bad games now than in a week's time. It was a good test (and) we'll be be ready for it in game one."
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Yet, if coach Ante Milicic was looking for excuses, he had a few. Crucial midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight was out with a calf issue, and in her place Milicic gave minutes to attack-minded players Chloe Logarzo and Tameka Yallop rather than reinforcing his midfield. Fullback Steph Catley, who struggled, was playing just her second match in three months after injuries.
Other Matildas may still have been carrying weary legs from their intensive 10-day training campaign in Turkey, which wrapped up just prior to the Dutch rout.
Kerr said her side would be better for the run. "I just think in critical moments the situation got the better of us. I don't think we got outplayed completely," Kerr said. "It was a really big learning curve for us. That's what the crowds are going to be like in France and I think we let it get the better of us but I'm really proud of the girls, we kept fighting to the end."
Kerr comes in for close attention from the Dutch defence ahead of the Matildas' World Cup opener. Credit:AAP
Clare Polkinghorne agreed, saying "it wasn't a 3-0 game". &quRead More – Source
