Australia are growing increasingly confident over their chances of a strong run into the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup knockout stages as the tournament hype begins to build.
The Matildas are on co-hosting duty, alongside neighbours New Zealand, for the tournament and Tony Gustavsson will be quietly optimistic over his team's chances as they prepare to play at packed stadiums in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
Australia's stars will be drawn from clubs all over the world ahead of the tournament, but captain Sam Kerr is the standout name on Gustavsson's roster on the back of a superb 12 months for club and country.
Kerr has played a key role in Chelsea's WSL title defence push in 2022/23, alongside reaching the semifinals of the FA Cup and the Champions League, plus a 2023 Cup of Nations title with Australia.
How many goals has Sam Kerr scored for Australia?
Kerr has continued to stamp her importance as the leader and main goal threat in Gustavsson's team, with the 29-year-old scoring more than double the amount of international goals than any other player in the current squad.
Despite taking time to catch fire at international level, Kerr has proven to be one of the deadliest finishers in international football in recent years, with 55 goals since 2017.
Her overall tally of 63 goals in 119 international appearances gives the Perth-born forward an average of just over one goal scored per two matches.
Sam Kerr's World Cup goals
Kerr was included in Australia's squad for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, aged 17, but she was unable to find the back of the net in Germany as Australia bowed out in the quarterfinals.
Australia went one better in 2015, beating Brazil in the round of 16 before losing to Japan in the restructured quarterfinals, but despite playing an increased role, it was another tournament blank for Kerr.
It proved to be third time lucky for Kerr in 2019 as she opened her World Cup account in a 2-1 group stage loss to Italy, before scoring an incredible four goals against Jamaica to seal her side's place in the knockout stages.
However, the tournament was to end in frustration for both Kerr and Australia as she missed her spot-kick in the penalty shootout, in which they lost out to Norway.
Sam Kerr becomes the 3rd player to score 4 #FIFAWWC goals in a game as Australia are headed to the knockout stage.
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 18, 2019
Jamaica bow out but not before they score their first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup goal. pic.twitter.com/OMaWOYILgm
Australia top scorers all-time
Kerr's goalscoring exploits have seen her rise up the goal scoring charts for Australia with 15 goals more than her nearest rival, Lisa De Vanna.
| Player | International Career | International Goals | International Caps |
| Sam Kerr | 2016 - Present | 63 | 119 |
| Lisa De Vanna | 2004 - 2019 | 47 | 150 |
| Kate Gill | 2004 - 2015 | 41 | 86 |
| Cheryl Salisbury | 1994 - 2009 | 38 | 151 |
| Sarah Walsh | 2004 - 2012 | 32 | 70 |
| Emily Van Egmond | 2010 - Present | 30 | 127 |
| Caitlin Foord | 2011 - Present | 29 | 108 |
| Kyah Simon | 2007 - Present | 29 | 111 |
| Joanne Peters | 1996 - 2009 | 28 | 110 |
| Sunni Hughes | 1989 - 2010 | 24 | 63 |
