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5 of The Greats to Watch at The Women’s World Cup

By Caden Charpentier

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 19: Sam Kerr of Australia celebrates scoring a goal that was later ruled offside during the 2023 Cup of Nations Match between Australian Matildas and Spain at CommBank Stadium on February 19, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 19: Sam Kerr of Australia celebrates scoring a goal that was later ruled offside during the 2023 Cup of Nations Match between Australian Matildas and Spain at CommBank Stadium on February 19, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) /
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BRENTFORD, ENGLAND – APRIL 11: Sam Kerr of Australia celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the Women’s International Friendly match between England and Australia at Gtech Community Stadium on April 11, 2023 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND – APRIL 11: Sam Kerr of Australia celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the Women’s International Friendly match between England and Australia at Gtech Community Stadium on April 11, 2023 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) /

1. Sam Kerr

Country: Australia

Club: Chelsea

Donning the captain’s armband in her home country at the World Cup, global superstar, Sam Kerr is going to have a lot of the attention pointed her way. The Chelsea striker is coming off of another sensational season in west London where she scored 29 goals across all competitions for the second straight campaign.

When the lights shine the brightest, Kerr is consistently the one to come through in the clutch. Australia is going to need that. The nation has never made it past the quarterfinals. A fourth-place finish in the 2020 Olympic Games behind six goals by Kerr and a victory over England a few months ago should ignite all the confidence the Matildas would need to contend. Australia’s No. 20 finished just behind the leaders in goals during the 2019 World Cup, ending the tournament with five in far fewer contests played.

https://twitter.com/justwsports/status/1646944835599835136?s=20

With 62 goals internationally, Kerr is the leading goal-scorer in Australia’s history for both the men’s and women’s teams. Chelsea’s No. 20 is a natural goal scorer. All she needs is a good service in behind or a solid cross from the flank, and her instincts take over. The variety of goals she scores is what is most impressive. Off her head, with her left boot, or from the penalty spot, No. 20 is dangerous the second she steps into the opponent’s half of the pitch.

Kerr is Australian football. It is a proud moment in her country’s history to be able to host a tournament like the World Cup. This is not the host country of the 2022 Men’s World Cup who are just content to be there. With the prowess in the attacking third of Kerr, Australia is aiming to compete against the European and North American powerhouses.

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