SYDNEY, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- On the eve of Australia's opening match against the Philippines at the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, its top star and captain Sam Kerr said on Saturday she was back to about 85% of her best after a 20-month lay-off due to injury.
"I've had a long journey from my ACL. I'm honestly so excited, so grateful to be back here and to be playing football," Kerr said at a pre-match press conference.
Since early 2024, Kerr had been out of action for an extended period due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament and subsequent knee issues. She did not return to competition until September last year, when she resumed playing for her Women's Super League club, Chelsea.
"I'm probably 85% and above. I don't want to say I'm at 100% yet. I haven't had one of those games yet where I felt completely myself, but I think about 85% and above," the Matildas' top goal scorer said.
In the previous 20 editions of the tournament, Australia has won the title only once, in 2010. In the 26-player squad for this year's tournament, the 32-year-old Kerr is the only remaining member of that championship-winning team.
"I think going in as a little bit of a dark horse (in 2010) helped us as a national team, and now with the pressure that the Matildas carry, we've just tried to not talk about winning and just talk about one game at a time," she said.
"I know how much everyone wants to win this tournament, of course, but we don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves. There are a lot of great teams in our path, and we just have to take it one game at a time," she added.
Matildas coach Joe Montemurro said he was looking forward to an "amazing tournament" and "there's going to be some special memories made."
Earlier on Saturday, Philippine head coach Mark Torcaso said his team would "try and spoil the party, not just for Australia, but for South Korea and obviously for Iran as well."
"We fight right to the end, regardless of the scenario in the game," Torcaso was quoted by the Australian Associated Press as saying. "We're just going to be there and be annoying and constantly be pushing."
The tournament will be staged across Sydney, Perth and the Gold Coast from March 1 to 21. A total of 12 teams will compete in three groups.
The top two teams from each group and two best third-placed teams will qualify for the quarterfinals. The four semifinalists will secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil, while the four losing quarterfinalists will compete in playoffs for the remaining two World Cup berths.
The tournament's opening match between Australia and the Philippines will be played in Perth on March 1. ■
