Matildas veteran Mackenzie Arnold says there has been no discussion about Sam Kerr’s captaincy as the Aussies prepare for their first match since charges were laid against their leader.
The Matildas are in the United States this week preparing for a friendly match with Mexico on Wednesday (AEST).
Kerr, who is in “high spirits”, remains in London as she continues to rehab her knee injury, which has ruled her out of the Paris Olympics.
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Last month, she was charged under the Public Order Act with a racially aggravated offence after reportedly telling a police officer he was a “stupid white bastard” or “stupid white copper”.
The incident took place a day after Kerr scored a hat-trick in Chelsea’s FA Cup win with Liverpool in January 2023 and she is due to appear in court later this month ahead of a February 2025 trial.
The nature of the alleged comment has led some to call for Kerr to stand down as national captain, which is something of a moot point given her injury.
Kerr also kept the incident from national team bosses, though it’s unclear if teammates knew.
Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson called for Kerr to be stripped of the captaincy.
“Regardless of the outcome of Kerr’s charge in England, her captaincy deserves to be called into question after hiding it from Football Australia,” Johnson wrote for The Nightly.
“More than just being looked up to by many young girls and boys, Kerr is the captain. Leaders need to lead from the front, and not telling the national body about her legal issues sends a terrible message, more so when you’re the captain.”
Arnold said there was no move on Kerr’s captaincy from the team, with regular vice captain Steph Catley expected to assume the armband in San Antonio.
“I don’t believe so,” she said.
“I haven’t really had that conversation. It’s just not really in the team environment right now.”
Arnold, a good friend of Kerr’s as well as a long-term Matildas teammate, said Kerr’s plight wasn’t a subject of discussion in camp.
“Honestly, we haven’t really spoken about it at all,” she said.
“Sam’s just really concentrating on her knee rehab back in London and she’s in high spirits and just pretty much carrying on with normal.
“We haven’t really conversed with the team and her at all.”
Tony Gustavsson’s side are enjoying the relative luxury of a week-long training camp in Melbourne, Florida before heading to Texas for the friendly next week.
“I wouldn’t know if I’d call it luxurious … but it gives us probably the best chance to sort of prepare on how we want to play,” Arnold said.
“We’re making a couple of changes to how we want to play and this probably comes at a perfect time just to really get a solid seven days together really working on that.”
And those changes?
“That’s what you’d have to find out … different playing styles, experimenting with different positions.”
Arnold comes into camp from her club home with West Ham, 11th in the 12-team Women’s Super League and just above relegation.
Despite their gloomy position, the 30-year-old was upbeat on the Hammers’ form, which includes a win over Arsenal and draw with Manchester United, both top four sides, in their last six outings.
As one of the best goalkeepers in the world, she has been tipped to explore free agency this summer, but Arnold said that wasn’t currently in her thinking.
“I feel that we’re actually probably playing the best football that we’ve played since I’ve been there,” she said.
“We’re really taking positive strides.
“We’re trying to get points and stay above relegation so that’s my main focus at the moment and we’ll see at the end of the season.”
– With AAP