This was a plan – England deciding to get tough, physical and relentless toward Australia's all-world superstar forward – and it was a legitimate one.
England coach Sarina Wiegman said before the game that Australia wasn't a one-player team, with weapons that needed paying attention to other than Kerr, the dynamic, exceptional, resourceful Aussie striker whose tournament had been severely curtailed by a calf injury sustained on the very eve of it.Maybe it was a ruse.
Anything that could slow the 29-year-old down enough to blunt her effect, even just a little bit, could be decisive.Kerr did light up Stadium Australia was a blistering strike for the ages in the 63rd minute, pulling things back level to cancel outBut her impact was restricted just enough. England's defense and holding midfielders stood tall and determined. Kerr rarely received any space, and always felt hassling, hustling opponents around her.
England didn't need to shut her down entirely, if such a thing is even possible. They just needed to make sure she didn't overrun them, and she felt the pinch of pressure.had the smarts and the system to close it out. Kerr's leveling goal, a wonder-strike from 28 yards, didn't rattle them — quite the opposite, in fact.
The response was resolute and if anything, the fresh urgency forced things to become a little more direct. Australia's backline and goalkeeper
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