Matildas captain Sam Kerr had a blunt message to the critics after her team came back from a two-goal deficit to record a sensational 3-2 victory over South American powerhouse Brazil in a stunning Women's World Cup match in Montpellier.
"Suck on that one," she declared in a post-match television interview as the euphoria of the moment took over seconds after the final whistle.
"There were a lot of critics talking about us,” Kerr said. "But were back – so suck on that one. We dont listen to the haters.
"I love these girls, theyre something else. We knew we were a top-10 team, now were back in it. Suck on that one."
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The criticism of the team following Australia's shock loss to Italy had clearly made an impact – even though most of the players had tried to avoid reading and seeing what the Australian media were saying, Kerr told reporters in the mixed zone following the game.
"Oh look, we havent been reading it (criticism) but at the end of the day you can feel it from you guys asking questions about it and you know, social media gives people a platform to say whatever they want – so it was good to kind of send a message back home and send a message to the rest of the world."
Even when Australia were 2-0 down the captain and the rest of her team believed that they would claw their way back into it.
"Oh for sure, go back and watch the video – were all saying were still in this, keep your head.
"I guess for us, people dont understand the belief we have in this team, they dont understand the confidence we have in each other, the confidence we have in (coach) Ante (Milicic).
"One games not going to derail our World Cup hopes – and thats why it was so frustrating for us because instead of the media being we can turn this around, it turned negative on us and it only fueled us, so thank you.
"And we knew this would happen, we knew people would be quick to judge but thats football and look what we did today – we had three different goalscorers and outplayed them most of the time."
Still, Kerr was reluctant to acknowledge that this might have been Australia's greatest ever moment.
"I mean coming back from two goals down with the pressure we had on us, its pretty special. But theres been some pretty good wins so Id have to sit down and think about it."
But one thing the skipper would agree on – the Matildas had sent a warning to the rest of the competition.
"Oh, hell yeah. Brazils one of the best teams in the world, theyve got the best player probably ever in the history of the game (in Marta).
Statement: Matildas captain Sam Kerr had a blunt message for Australia's critics after the victory over Brazil.Credit:ninevms
"So if people dont I guess keep watching the Aussies, well come get you like we did then.
"But Im so proud of the girls, honestly, it takes a lot of heart to come back and not turn on each other and I guess in the changeroom, if you heard us at half-time we knew that was going to happen, we were so positive, we could feel ourselves over-running them and I'm so proud that the girls stuck to it.
"Im so happy for Ante that we could get him that win. And just for everyone thats worked so hard – for Lozzie (Laura Alleway) whos missed out – theres so many people thatve put so much into this team and it just feels so good to give back to them and were all pumped."
Kerr was involved in Australia's second and third goals, firstly drawing defenders out of the way for Chloe Logarzo's shot to skid past goalkeeper Barbara.
Then in the controversial VAR ruling for the second goal after Brazil centre back Monica headed intRead More – Source
Matildas captain Sam Kerr had a blunt message to the critics after her team came back from a two-goal deficit to record a sensational 3-2 victory over South American powerhouse Brazil in a stunning Women's World Cup match in Montpellier.
"Suck on that one," she declared in a post-match television interview as the euphoria of the moment took over seconds after the final whistle.
"There were a lot of critics talking about us,” Kerr said. "But were back – so suck on that one. We dont listen to the haters.
"I love these girls, theyre something else. We knew we were a top-10 team, now were back in it. Suck on that one."
Advertisement
The criticism of the team following Australia's shock loss to Italy had clearly made an impact – even though most of the players had tried to avoid reading and seeing what the Australian media were saying, Kerr told reporters in the mixed zone following the game.
"Oh look, we havent been reading it (criticism) but at the end of the day you can feel it from you guys asking questions about it and you know, social media gives people a platform to say whatever they want – so it was good to kind of send a message back home and send a message to the rest of the world."
Even when Australia were 2-0 down the captain and the rest of her team believed that they would claw their way back into it.
"Oh for sure, go back and watch the video – were all saying were still in this, keep your head.
"I guess for us, people dont understand the belief we have in this team, they dont understand the confidence we have in each other, the confidence we have in (coach) Ante (Milicic).
"One games not going to derail our World Cup hopes – and thats why it was so frustrating for us because instead of the media being we can turn this around, it turned negative on us and it only fueled us, so thank you.
"And we knew this would happen, we knew people would be quick to judge but thats football and look what we did today – we had three different goalscorers and outplayed them most of the time."
Still, Kerr was reluctant to acknowledge that this might have been Australia's greatest ever moment.
"I mean coming back from two goals down with the pressure we had on us, its pretty special. But theres been some pretty good wins so Id have to sit down and think about it."
But one thing the skipper would agree on – the Matildas had sent a warning to the rest of the competition.
"Oh, hell yeah. Brazils one of the best teams in the world, theyve got the best player probably ever in the history of the game (in Marta).
Statement: Matildas captain Sam Kerr had a blunt message for Australia's critics after the victory over Brazil.Credit:ninevms
"So if people dont I guess keep watching the Aussies, well come get you like we did then.
"But Im so proud of the girls, honestly, it takes a lot of heart to come back and not turn on each other and I guess in the changeroom, if you heard us at half-time we knew that was going to happen, we were so positive, we could feel ourselves over-running them and I'm so proud that the girls stuck to it.
"Im so happy for Ante that we could get him that win. And just for everyone thats worked so hard – for Lozzie (Laura Alleway) whos missed out – theres so many people thatve put so much into this team and it just feels so good to give back to them and were all pumped."
Kerr was involved in Australia's second and third goals, firstly drawing defenders out of the way for Chloe Logarzo's shot to skid past goalkeeper Barbara.
Then in the controversial VAR ruling for the second goal after Brazil centre back Monica headed intRead More – Source
