Sam Kerr will be looking to play the ‘game changer’ role against Canada with the Matildas captain named to the bench for Australia’s must-win final pool match.
Tony Gustavsson gave little indication of what role his star striker would play in the match’s lead up and it seems Canada will still be left answerless to the question until Kerr enters the game.
That is if she enters the game.
As the Matildas took to the field for the warm up, Kerr didn’t get beyond a walk and took no part in running with her teammates.
Optus Sport football expert Tanya Oxtoby said on Sam Kerr: “If you are not planning to use her in the first half and are worried about loading then she may not do the main warm up and come out and warm up in the second half…. It’s a concern.”
Conspiracy theorists were quick to assume that taking no part in the warm-up was a sure fire sign that Kerr would play no role in the do-or-die clash.
7:45PM A GENIUS MOVE
It’s a thumbs up from John Aloisi on the Matildas selection from the former Socceroo and Western United coach.
“That is brilliant change to me,” he said n Channel 7. “Fowler is more of a 9 than Caitlin Foord. Caitlin Foord going out wide, combining with Steph Catley, they play for us at club level. They understand each other’s games.
“Caitlin Foord is sensational 1 v 1. If she gets isolated 1 v 1 she will beat her player every day of the week and then she will set up the players further up the field. Mary Fowler has the quality that can finish off those chances.”
7:27PM WHO ELSE IS IN/OUT?
Australia had 28 attempts on goal, with 8 on target, against Nigeria last Thursday, with Caitlin Foord struggling as the Matildas’ sole option for deliveries into the 18-yard-box.
It’s something they cannot afford to repeat against a more clinical Canada, where opportunities are likely to be far less frequent.
Gustavsson has recalled Mary Fowler to his starting line up after she was cleared to play following a concussion in training.
Both she and Emily van Egmond will start for the Matildas, with speedster Cortnee Vine dropped to the bench after the flankers was effectively played out of the match up with Nigeria, with the African nation comfortably matching her pace.
It’s a sign Australia will be looking to play more through the middle of the field and look to Fowler for creative entries into the final third, to find Foord, Raso and van Egmond in the box.
As for the pressure on the entire Matildas team, former Matilda Heather Garriock said: “It’s backs against the wall.
“We know what it’s like. I spoke to some players this morning that said they are not coming off this pitch without a win.”
7:15PM WHAT DO WE GET TONIGHT?
Let’s not sugar-coat this, the Matildas don’t just need a win tonight they actually need to play some half decent football.
Excuses and injuries aside, you’re at the World Cup, they have not played good football thus far.
Sam Kerr on the field or not each and everyone of them would be hard pressed to say they’d had a tournament they can be proud of.
Might sound brutal but it’s true.
My expectations of Kerr tonight would be minimal. Smart to start her on the bench. If needed being her on in the 60-65th minute and see what impact she can have but not at the expense of Fowler.
Rewind two weeks to the Matilda’s warm-up match against France and they actually played better without Kerr on the field.
The upside of the Chelsea star being there? Of course she’s one of the best in the world, she can turn a match on its head, the downside? People become too reliant.
Also observe how most sides with double mark Kerr out of play. An Advantage IF you can make the most of the free player – I’m yet to see the Matildas do this.
Tonight won’t be easy and Canada are a force to be reckoned with – they showed that in Tokyo but you could also argue their team have yet to send much of a warning this tournament.
ENORMOUS RESULTS
Elsewhere in the FIFA World Cup there’s some interesting results.
Japan finish top of Group C with an incredible performance beating Spain 4-0, while Zambia upset Costa Rica in a 3-1 win.
It means Japan now face Norway in the knockout stage
WHAT WE NEED:
Co-hosts Australia have to beat Canada or risk an unthinkable exit from the Women’s World Cup in the first round, while former champions Japan take on Spain with top spot in their group on the line.
Australia are sweating on the fitness of star forward and captain Sam Kerr for the Group B game against Canada in Melbourne where only a win will guarantee them a place in the last 16.
Kerr has missed the Matildas’ two matches so far, in which they beat the Republic of Ireland 1-0 but then suffered a surprise 3-2 defeat against Nigeria.
She has declared herself available after a calf injury but it is uncertain how much of a part she will play against the Olympic champions.
We will get the final teams at 6:40pm AEST.
“Everyone involved in sport knows that with calf injuries it’s one thing that you’re available, but there’s also risk when you come back from a muscle injury,” said Australia coach Tony Gustavsson ahead of the game.
Australia are a point behind both Canada and Nigeria, and a draw could only be enough for the co-hosts to go through should the Nigerians lose to Ireland in Brisbane at the same time.
Otherwise they will have to win to avoid suffering the same fate as New Zealand and being eliminated from their home World Cup in the first round.
A draw will do for Canada, whose coach Bev Priestman was not focusing on Kerr’s fitness.
“We’ve spoken about what it takes to beat Australia because Australia is not just Sam Kerr,” she said.
After stunning Australia in their last game, Nigeria’s Super Falcons need just a point against the already-eliminated Irish to go through to the knockout phase.
Before those games, the finale to Group C sees already-qualified Japan and Spain battle it out for top spot in Wellington (0700 GMT).
Spain, featuring Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, lead the group on goal difference from the 2011 World Cup winners, meaning Japan need to win to finish top.
Whoever tops Group C will stay in Wellington for a last-16 tie on Saturday against Norway, while the runners-up will head north to Auckland to face Switzerland the same day.
– Colombia stun Germany –
The Swiss secured first place in Group A on Sunday with a 0-0 draw against New Zealand as the co-hosts were eliminated on goal difference by Norway, who hammered the Philippines 6-0.
Many of the New Zealand players were distraught at the end.
“There are a lot of tears out there, but they should be so proud to finish on four points,” captain Ali Riley said.
A 97th-minute header from Manuela Vanegas gave Colombia a stunning 2-1 win over Germany in Sydney in Group H.
Germany smashed Morocco 6-0 in their opener to underline why they were among the pre-tournament favourites, along with Spain and England, to snatch the crown from holders the United States.
But they came crashing back down to earth at the hands of a Colombia side inspired by 18-year-old Linda Caicedo and roared on by the majority of a rowdy 40,000 crowd.
Caicedo scored a brilliant opener to put Colombia ahead, but Germany thought they had salvaged a point in the 89th minute when skipper Alexandra Popp levelled from the penalty spot.
However, Vanegas popped up to head home from close range and put Colombia on the verge of the last 16.
“Germany is a world power, that’s a reality, but Colombia has been making great strides and today Colombia is a world power,” said the defender Vanegas.
“I dreamed of scoring a goal in a World Cup, I knew it was going to come and I decided to do it for today’s game.” Morocco won a Women’s World Cup match for the first time after Ibtissam Jraidi struck early to give them a 1-0 victory over South Korea.
Going into the last round of group matches, Colombia are top of Group H on six points, Germany and Morocco have three and South Korea have zero.
Originally published as Matildas v Canada kick off time, tickets: Sam Kerr fitness, teams, live news FIFA World Cup 2023