Matildas Veteran Elise Kellond-Knight Reveals What Had Sam Kerr Seeing Red in Training
Key Highlights :
Elise Kellond-Knight and Sam Kerr used to do battle on the right wing during training, but the Matildas veteran has revealed an unlikely source of tension between the two: Kellond-Knight's red boots. The Aussie star, who will carry the hopes of a nation at the World Cup this month, used to take exception to her teammate's footwear and would tell her: ‘KK, I hate you’.
Kellond-Knight, who has made 113 appearances for the Matildas, lifted the lid on how the then-20-year-old Kerr would take facing her very personally. She said that Kerr would always think she had the ball or be protecting it, but she would always manage to get her toe in and nick the ball off her.
The Chelsea striker has since developed into the best striker on the planet, scoring 63 goals in 120 appearances for Australia and an astonishing 233 goals in 322 club appearances. Kellond-Knight described Kerr as a 'freak of nature' and explained the secret behind her incredible goalscoring record was that it all came natural to the Matildas star.
Kerr will carry the hopes of a nation this month as the Matildas hope to become only the second team after the USA to win the Women's World Cup on home soil. The Aussie star will be looking to replicate her stellar club form and lead the Matildas to their first ever World Cup victory.
Kellond-Knight, who will miss the upcoming tournament due to injury, believes that Kerr has what it takes to carry the Matildas to glory. She said that Kerr has the instinct and habits of a great player and that you have to be some sort of natural freak to pull it off, which she obviously is.
The Matildas open their campaign on Thursday night at Stadium Australia against the Republic of Ireland, before taking on Nigeria at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on July 27 and Canada at AAMI Park in Melbourne four days later. With the nation hoping that the Matildas can make history, all eyes will be on Sam Kerr and her red boots.
