Australia is waiting with bated breath for updates after an injury prevented Matildas star Sam Kerr from playing in the nation’s opening Women’s World Cup game against Ireland.
News of the captain’s absence was a tightly-kept secret until the Australian team was announced 60 minutes before last week’s opener, with the story becoming the biggest of the tournament to date.
While the Matildas went on to defeat Ireland 1-0, they then suffered a shock 3-2 loss to Nigeria, leaving their chances of qualifying for the knockout rounds in doubt.
The Sporting News looks at Sam Kerr’s status ahead of the Matildas’ crucial clash against Canada.
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How long is Sam Kerr out for? Matildas captain reveals return timeline
Kerr has confirmed she will be available for Australia’s do-or-die World Cup clash with Canada on Monday.
Speaking to the media on Saturday (AEST) for the first time since she injured her calf in training, the Matildas captain revealed she will be fit enough for her team’s final group game.
It is unclear whether she will start the match, though.
“The plan has always been the same — miss the first two games and then reassess,” Kerr said.
“I’m feeling good. I was out in the pitch today.
“I would love to tell you guys everything but being in sport a long time, that’s a massive thing that the opposition wants to know. Like Tony [Gustavsson] said yesterday, it’s gonna go down to the wire.
“I’m definitely going to be available, but how we decide to use that … [it won’t] be given to the opposition.”
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There are just four days between Australia’s second and third matches at the World Cup, but the Matildas captain is confident she will be ready.
The tournament co-hosts play Canada on July 31 in Melbourne, with the side needing a win to have a realistic chance of qualifying for the Round of 16.
The winner and runner-up of Australia’s Group B are scheduled to play their Round-of-16 match on Saturday, August 5.
What is Sam Kerr’s injury?
Kerr was struck down by a calf injury at training in Brisbane last week — one day before the Matildas’ opening World Cup match against Ireland.
The news was kept under wraps by the Australian team until the starting XI was announced 60 minutes before the Ireland kickoff on Thursday night.
Kerr, who was in tears just prior to the Ireland match starting, used an Instagram story to relay a message about her injury and absence.
“Unfortunately I sustained a calf injury yesterday in training,” Kerr wrote. “I wanted to share this with everyone so there is no distraction from us doing what we came here to achieve.
“Of course I would have loved to have been out there tonight but I can’t wait to be apart (sic) of this amazing journey which starts now.”
After the match, Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson admitted the news of Kerr’s injury was kept secret to disrupt Ireland’s preparation, while also giving the team’s star a chance to get the issue assessed.
“First of all, I hope you and the media understand the position not to say,” Gustavsson told Channel 7.
“Some people might wonder why we weren’t honest in the press conference. We didn’t have all the information either. We were waiting for the scans at that moment, too.
“A lot of it is tactics and you don’t want to give away anything. Sam is a massive part of our game plan and Ireland’s game plan. We wanted to protect Sam and the team emotionally not to have to answer all the questions.
Sam Kerr’s importance to the Matildas
Kerr is the one bona fide superstar of the Matildas team, with 63 goals in 120 appearances for the national team since making her debut in 2009 at 15 years of age.
Domestically, she has won three golden boots in North America’s premier women’s league NWSL and since a 2020 move to Chelsea in the Women’s Super League, she has been top scorer in the division twice and has won 10 domestic trophies.
This has seen Kerr nominated for the past four Ballon d’Or Feminin awards, with the Australian finishing third on two occasions.
When playing for Australia, Kerr is used in a talismanic centre-forward role, where the team relies on her finishing, aerial prowess, and pace in behind defences.
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