CommBank Matildas forward Sam Kerr and head coach Joe Montemurro spoke to the media in the Pre-Match Press Conference ahead of Australia's first-ever meeting with Wales.
Kerr will make her much-anticipated return in the fixture, having been sidelined since January 2024 after sustaining an ACL injury. Talking on her return, Kerr expressed her excitement to be back in camp and with the team.
“I’m really excited and happy to be back with Australia. It’s been a long rehab, but I’m excited to be back with the girls."
“It’s the biggest honour to be able to play for your national team, and I’ve grown up with most of these girls. It’s an amazing environment and I couldn’t be happier.
“I haven’t let my mind wander too much towards what being back on the pitch wearing the jersey would mean. I’m just focusing on training and trying to learn what I can this week, but I’ll probably sit in bed tonight and think about it, but I’m excited.
“It’s been a long time, and I guess when you’ve been in the national team for a long time you can take things for granted, but when that is taken away from you, you realise just how special it is to play for your country.”
“I always knew that I wanted to come back. I always had that drive, but there were definitely days when I doubted if I would come back.
“When you’re injured and out of the game for a long time, there’s always that element of doubt that creeps in. I had a lot of moments where I had setbacks, but there were a lot of good times as well."
This game will be the first meeting between Australia and Wales, with the Welsh team recently competing in their first major tournament after qualifying for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025.
“Wales are a developing team, but they’ve had a lot of success lately with qualifying for the Euros. They’re a great team, and in a way, they’re similar to the Matildas.
“Similar in the way they are going through their journey and the fact that they’ve got some great players."
“I’ve obviously played with Sophie Ingle, and they are a team that we can’t underestimate. They are on the start of their journey of becoming a great European team for sure.”
The Dragons will be bidding farewell to 165-capped captain Jess Fishlock, in the game, with the midfielder announcing her retirement from international football. Fishlock is no stranger to her opposition, having played with and alongside a number of them across her stints with Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory and Seattle Reign.
“Jess is a legend of the game. In the A-League Women's, she’s so highly regarded because she was amazing out there. She was an absolute pest to play against.
“I never got the opportunity to play with her, but you knew every time you were in a battle, and everyone knew that she was going to destroy all of our midfields."
“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Jess as a person, and she really helped me through a journey with Melbourne City when we were building a team from scratch. Her intelligence and ability to understand people and the game are amazing.
COMMBANK MATILDAS | MATCH DETAILS
Wales v CommBank Matildas
Date: Saturday, 25 October 2025 / Sunday, 26 October 2025
Kick-off: 2:00pm BST (Local) / 12:00am AEDT
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
Broadcast: Paramount+
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England v CommBank Matildas
Date: Tuesday, 28 October 2025 / Wednesday, 29 October 2025
Kick-off: 7:00pm BST (Local) / 6:00am AEDT
Venue: Pride Park Stadium, Derby, England
Broadcast: Paramount+
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