Sam Kerr’s face was a rictus of agony. The Australian superstar striker had just sprayed a magnificent volley attempt wide of goal. She bent her arms over her head, clutching at her hair, staring hard at nothing and everything.
All tournament long, the specter of her absence due to a calf injury had hung over the team. There was no Australia press conference where someone didn’t ask about Kerr and her recovery and how many minutes she might get and if she would start.
And here, in the one game she did finally start, in the game when all of Australia had finally bought in and set their hearts on the final, the weight of it seemed like it was crushing her.
GO DEEPER
The story of England reaching the World Cup final, told from Sydney, London and Rotherham
That’s the unfortunate, heady fate that dominates the life of any superstar. As Kerr goes, so goes the nation. And in this…