Sam Kerr should remain Matildas captain once she returns from injury says vice-captain Emily van Egmond

“What an absolute beat-up,” she said. “And the fact that it trickled down into Australia and then a question over at captaincy to me was just ridiculous. I feel like the people that were criticising probably don’t watch a lot of football, a lot of women’s sports, or have sort of jumped on the bandwagon a little bit. So, yeah, I’m stoked that the FA didn’t take any further action.

“The people who are anti … just took the opportunity for a bit of a culture war. And they’re the ones that will take a potshot about their form, not understanding the ebbs and flows and all the money that’s going in overseas.”

Kerr’s teammates seem to agree.

Suggestions that the 31-year-old, when fit to play, should choose to hand back the captain’s armband – as suggested by former Socceroo Robbie Slater – were given short shrift by midfielder and vice-captain Emily van Egmond, who said Kerr’s return, even in just a training capacity, was a huge morale boost for the team ahead of Friday night’s friendly against South Korea at Allianz Stadium.

“She definitely should not be stepping down,” she said. “The federation have come out and said what they need to say and obviously Sammy’s had her side to say as well. As teammates and a team, we’re in full support of her … I just want to reiterate that it’s a real positive thing for the team.”

Van Egmond said she was largely oblivious to the specifics of the discourse around Kerr and the captaincy – a role filled in her absence by Steph Catley – but was fully aware that some sections of the football community and beyond were sticking the boot in.

Loading

“When you’re doing well, everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon, and then when you’re not, you’re going to get negative comments. That’s part and parcel of professional sport and everyday life, I guess,” she said.

“For us, it’s just making sure that we stick together, which we have. Sammy’s been such an important figure for this team … a few of us have obviously grown up together and spent the juniors up until now together, and the first thing is removing Sam Kerr the footballer [from] Sam Kerr the human being and just making sure that she was okay.

“She’s just really happy, honestly, to be here. It’s been so long … she only helps the team in positive ways so for us, it’s really, really nice just to see her here again and be a part of the group.”