Sam Kerr the $1million superstar: Matildas dynamo is ‘offered a huge contract’ by Premier League giants Chelsea as she sets the World Cup alight

Matildas captain Sam Kerr opens up on the rift with her former AFL star brother during his drugs and alcohol battle – and he credits her years of silent treatment for getting him back on the straight and narrow

England’s Lionesses beat Japan 2-0 to top their Women’s World Cup group while Scotland go out after ‘heartbreaking’ VAR penalty row against Argentina
Football Federation Australia chief David Gallop said negations will begin with Kerr after the World Cup has concluded.

He hopes they can convince Kerr to renew her contract so she can keep playing in Australia in the W-League next season.

‘We will definitely sit down with her after the World Cup and discuss where she sees herself next. Her spot at Perth Glory and in the W-League is a tremendous thing for the club, the competition and the sport,’ Gallop told The Daily Telegraph.

‘The opportunity for her to lead us into a home soil Women’s World Cup in 2023 is so exciting. We appreciate that playing for a big club overseas would be wonderful for her, too.

‘I see her as a pioneer of a new era for women’s sport and women generally because she has pushed a barrier over that will be remembered as a unique moment in time. Now we see women, girls, men and boys wearing Matildas jerseys and even crossing out the name of a Socceroo on a men’s jersey and replacing it with Kerr.’

If Kerr accepts the offer to play for an overseas team, she would be one of the highest paid female footballers in the world

Kerr is tied with American Alex Morgan for the Women’s World Cup lead with five goals, four of which came in Australia’s 4-1 victory over Jamaica that put the Matildas into the knockout rounds.

Coach Ante Milicic is fully aware of how important his back-flipping global superstar captain is to the team but he was also keen to stress that he will be counting on all his players if the Matildas are to avoid a fourth straight quarterfinal elimination.

‘Sam’s our captain and a very important player for us but at the same time we work as a team together and our playing style in principle is about all 11 players being involved with and without the ball,’ Milicic said.

‘We’re delighted that we have as fantastic an individual as Sam in our squad to lead the team but at the same time we understand that to go deep in this tournament all 23 players are equally important.’

Kerr is tied with American Alex Morgan for the Women’s World Cup lead with five goals, four of which came in Australia’s 4-1 victory over Jamaica that put the Matildas into the knockout rounds
Next up for Australia is the opening round of 16 game on Saturday against Norway in Nice.

Norway defender Ingrid Moe Wold has singled Kerr out as the player who will give her and her teammates the biggest test.

‘She’s shown quality for a long time and she is also a strong leader. She’s been very, very good,’ Wold said Friday.

Coach Ante Milicic is fully aware of how important his back-flipping global superstar captain is to the team but he was also keen to stress that he will be counting on all his players if the Matildas are to avoid a fourth straight quarterfinal elimination
Kerr’s goals have taken the attention away from Australia’s weakness at the back.

Milicic acknowledges his team is noticeably stronger on the attack but says they will not change their style.

‘It’s a fair summary,’ he said when asked about Sjogren’s comments on Australia’s defense. ‘And that’s why we keep working on our attacking style and we keep the ball longer and we’re more patient.

‘That’s the best way to defend, by keeping the ball longer. We’ll continue to be brave and play our way of football.