Matildas Defend Sam Kerr Amid Captaincy Backlash After England Friendly Loss

Sam Kerr has faced public backlash after reclaiming the captain's armband for the Matildas during a friendly match against England, following her two-year injury absence and a high-profile court case in London where she was acquitted of charges. Despite some public criticism linked to the court incident, Kerr's teammates and coach Joe Montemurro strongly support her leadership, emphasizing her importance to the team's performance and cohesion. Montemurro clarified that his decision to keep Kerr as captain is purely based on football considerations, not political ones. The Matildas suffered a 3-0 defeat to England, which was aggravated by an early red card to teammate Alanna Kennedy, limiting the team's ability to execute their game plan and affecting Kerr's impact on the match. Kerr, still regaining full match fitness, was substituted after 63 minutes and expressed frustration over the team's disrupted momentum. Overall, the Matildas continue to rally around Kerr as a key figure in their build-up towards future competitions, including the 2026 Asian Cup.