'We got it right': Coach defends Kerr bench call

Matildas manager Tony Gustavsson believes the close telephone was made successful bringing Sam Kerr connected from the seat during Australia's quarter-final triumph implicit France.

Even according to Kerr herself, the "million dollar question" heading into the lucifer was whether she was acceptable to travel into the starting line-up aft making her instrumentality from a calf wounded successful the lucifer prior.

The infinitesimal yet came successful the 55th infinitesimal with Kerr the substitute for Emily van Egmond.

READ MORE: Matildas triumph successful shootout thriller to scope semi finals

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Sam Kerr is brought into the lucifer for Emily Van-Egmond. (Getty)

Speaking to media post-match, Gustavsson said the tactical decision-making astir Kerr was powerful.

"The biggest determination was erstwhile to bring Sam in. It was a monolithic determination adjacent earlier the crippled to permission her connected the bench," helium said.

"You privation the timing right. I was informed that she had constricted minutes for [the match] and that we needed to [take] other clip into consideration.

"So, it was not conscionable getting her successful during the 2nd fractional with 45 [minutes] due to the fact that possibly it could beryllium different 30. What are the risks that she pulls the calf? How galore minutes does she really have?

"That was a monolithic determination to get close and I deliberation we got it right."

Speaking afterward, Kerr admitted that she could person started but besides agreed that the close determination was made.

Sam Kerr is seen sitting retired the Matildas' warmup earlier the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Quarter Final lucifer betwixt Australia and France astatine Brisbane Stadium. (Elsa/FIFA via Getty Images)

"With everything that has been going on, I deliberation the champion happening for [this match] was the program we had and the program we followed," she said.

"When I wounded my calf, the program was to ever beryllium acceptable for the semi last and the final. So, I could person [started] but who knows what could person happened."

The crippled was already connected a weapon borderline earlier Kerr was brought into the fold, but the do-or-die brushwood abruptly recovered different cogwheel with Kerr connected the loose.

Making an contiguous impact, Kerr ran down the left-hand broadside earlier mounting up Hayley Raso, who fired astatine the extremity but was spectacularly saved.

"We should person scored during that [period] due to the fact that we truly got the momentum. We did it right, we had them but past erstwhile Sam came connected and we truly had them connected the hook," Gustavsson said.

"We were precise adjacent to scoring 2 goals successful that play but past it calmed down and I deliberation France got the momentum back."

Sam Kerr controls the shot against Maelle Lakrar of France. (Getty)

With the lucifer going to a punishment shootout to find the winner, Gustavsson was pleased that aft 65 minutes of play, Kerr was capable to measurement up and people Australia's 2nd punishment kick.

"Sam was precise energetic erstwhile she came in. I deliberation she was excited," helium said.

"The infinitesimal and that vigor besides made her tally a batch due to the fact that the infinitesimal gets to you, you truly privation to spell successful and marque an interaction - which she did - but past besides you could spot a small spot of fatigue passim the crippled which is natural. She hasn't been capable to bid continuously with strength for a while.

"Just the information that she could propulsion done and past measurement up arsenic a captain, particularly aft our vice-captain missed the punishment footwear before. She conscionable steps up and buries it.

"It's a classic Sam Kerr moment. She carries the squad connected her shoulder."

With the win, the Matildas advancement to the semi finals astatine a FIFA Women's World Cup for the archetypal time.

"It decidedly hasn't," Kerr said of whether the accomplishment had sunk in.

Sam Kerr receives the captain's armband from stand-in skipper Steph Catley. (Justin Setterfield via Getty Images)

"I'm shocked, I'm happy, I'm everything. I'm each implicit the spot and I astir apt won't slumber but it's exciting.

"We'll bask it contiguous and time but past we person truthful overmuch much to springiness successful this tournament."