Steph Catley reveals Sam Kerr’s surprising reaction when she handed the superstar her captain’s armband during Matildas’ World Cup victory over Denmark
- Sam Kerr did not want to take the captain’s armband from Steph Catley
- Kerr made her first appearance at the Women’s World Cup on Monday
- Catley led the team in Kerr’s absence, but returned the armband
Steph Catley insisted that Sam Kerr wear the captain’s armband despite the returning Matildas skipper not wanting it in her first appearance of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
After missing Australia’s three Group B matches with a calf injury she sustained on the eve of the tournament, Kerr finally enjoyed some playing time in the Matildas’ 2-0 round of 16 victory over Denmark in Sydney on Monday night.
Left-back Catley had led the team during Kerr’s absence, but once the Chelsea star was ready to come on in the 80th minute, the acting captain had no doubts about who should wear the armband.
“She’s been incredible to us off the field, and I was really happy to hand it over to her,” said Catley.
She shook her head and said, “No, no, no, I don’t want it,” and I was like, “Please, this is yours, put it on, go do your thing”.
Steph Catley has revealed that Sam Kerr did not want to be stripped of her captaincy
Kerr made her first appearance of this World Cup in Australia’s 2-0 win over Denmark
“It was a huge boost for us. The audience was clearly ecstatic when she entered. I’d never heard it loud before, except when we scored, so it was a beautiful moment and we’re just happy to have her back.
“Seeing Sammy come back was huge for us, and it just put a huge smile on my face.”
Kerr called it a “nice gesture” from Catley to hand over the bracelet.
“She broke it,” Kerr said of the Arsenal and Matildas defender.
“She’s leading the team, and… (during) the last 10 minutes, it doesn’t really matter.
Steph is a born leader. Me and she share this role. I know I usually wear the captain’s armband, but in this tournament she has shown that she is a born leader, and I didn’t think it was necessary to come to me, but it was a nice gesture from her.’
Kerr said it was a ‘relief to be back on the pitch’.
“Hopefully this is the last time I ever have to talk about the calf,” she said.
“Every player in the squad has done so well. It’s hard to come home and have so much noise around you, but we all sat together and they all did a great job, so I’m really proud of them.’
Catley has led the Matildas admirably, while Kerr is sidelined with an injury
The Matildas’ next match is a quarter-final in Brisbane on Saturday night against the winner of Tuesday night’s round of 16 between France and Morocco in Adelaide.
Catley said, ‘Every game so far in the tournament has been so unique and so different.
“Whoever we get in the next round, it will be a completely different challenge, but… we can be confident in the fact that we are scoring goals and also keeping a clean sheet.”