The China Mail - Rudderless Matildas desperate to reignite fire when Kerr returns

The Matildas captivated the nation and won legions of new fans with their run to the last four of the World Cup on home soil in 2023, propelling many of the players into household names.

But an underwhelming Paris Olympics last year saw Tony Gustavsson depart and they have been without a permanent head coach, or any clear direction, since.

Losing regular captain Kerr to a long-term anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL) only added to their mounting woes.

Their poor form culminated in a 2-1 defeat to Colombia at the SheBelieves Cup in San Diego this week, which followed a similar loss to the United States and a woeful 4-0 thumping at the hands of Japan.

It has seen Australia drop to 15 in the world rankings, but Arsenal's Catley said they were "looking at the bigger picture".

"It was obviously not a good result or a good tournament for us," she said.

"Often you go through waves in a national team where you peak at different times. Right now we're definitely not peaking. We have a lot to improve on and a lot to work on."

Catley said they were building towards the Asian Cup at home in March next year, where they hope fervent public support will help reignite the form that elevated them to a new plain at the World Cup.

"It's a massive tournament that we get to host at home, and on the back of the World Cup, considering how successful and how massive it was for our country," she said.

"It's important for us to do well and we want to do very well at that tournament.

"We'll bounce back, we'll fight back, and we'll be ready for our next task, and that will be the next step towards the Asian Cup."

- Missing Kerr -

The Matildas have been under the wing of interim coach Tom Sermanni since Gustavsson left, but the 70-year-old Scot has indicated he is not interested in the job full-time.

Football Australia chief James Johnson said this week they were "waiting for the right coach", suggesting their preferred candidate was contracted elsewhere.

"As soon as that coach becomes available we'll make sure the appointment is made," he said.

The Matildas next play two friendlies against South Korea at home in April, with Sermanni confirming he will still be in charge.

Those games could see the return of Chelsea's Kerr, who was found not guilty this month of racially aggravated abuse of a police officer after a high-profile trial in London.

Whether she is reinstated as captain, given her off-field woes, is another pressing decision for Australia's football powerbrokers.

Former Socceroos star-turned-pundit Robbie Slater said in a column for The Australian newspaper that the comeback of Australia's all-time leading goalscorer could not come soon enough.

"It is very obvious that the Matildas miss Sam Kerr. In the game against Colombia the Matildas had nine shots on goal but just one was on target," said the former West Ham and Southampton midfielder.

"Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso, Mary Fowler -– they are all great players who can score goals, they just can't do what Kerr can.

"The quicker we get her back in the squad the better -– even having Kerr starting off the bench would be a massive lift for the team."

I.Ko--ThChM