Sam Kerr and the rest of the Matildas are pinning their recovery hopes on the guidance of Australia’s “Triple-SM” team.Credit:Getty
After120 minutes of relentless football against France,the Matildas appeared to almost becompletely out of petrol. If not,the little light on their collective dashboard was certainly blinking.
Since the end ofthat dramatic penalty shootout,the team has not laced up a boot. It’s been all about rest and recuperation,mental and physical. On Monday,the players who have logged the most game time thus far at the World Cup – including eight who have been on the pitch for practically every minute of every match – dropped into the Sydney Swans’ new headquarters at Moore Park to use their swimming pool and other recovery-assisting facilities.
Darren Burgess,right,working with Socceroos' Harry Kewell during the 2010 World Cup.Credit:AP
Those players,and everyone else,are putting their trust in the Triple-SMers to refill their tanks in time for kick-off against England.
“We have the best medical staff,” said reserve goalkeeper Lydia Williams. “We’ve said it time and time again – if it hasn’t been for our medical team and the support staff,they make sure that everyone is fit,ready to go,do what they need to do.
“It’s no coincidence that these medical people have been around us for six,eight years,information passed down,so they know how each person ticks and what they need.
“We’re going to go into the next game as fit and ready as we can be.”