Canadians calm ahead of crucial Women’s World Cup game against Australia

Football
Published 29.07.2023
Canadians calm ahead of crucial Women’s World Cup game against Australia

MELBOURNE — Two days earlier than a match that can resolve its future on the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Canada exuded calm.

That regardless of news from Brisbane that Australia striker Sam Kerr is match to play in opposition to the Canadians in Monday’s Group B finale at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. 

Just what position Kerr could play within the recreation is up within the air, with the Chelsea star saying she was “definitely going to be available, but how we decide to use that is not to be given to the opposition.”

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Still the temper in Canada’s camp was upbeat and constructive.

“We’re ready to go. We’re excited,” midfielder Julia Grosso stated after a staff gymnasium session Saturday. “We know this is a very important game, but I think this team always rises to the occasion with these big games.”

“I think there’s a calm confidence,” added centre again Shelina Zadorsky. “But we’re not naive to the fact that every game is a challenge.”

“Being Canada, we’ve been in this situation before,” stated ahead Cloé Lacasse. “We know what it’s all about.”

The prime two groups in every of the eight first-round teams advance to the knockout spherical. Canada (1-0-1) may end anyplace from first to 3rd in its pool.

The good news is the permutations favour the seventh-ranked Olympic champions. They will advance to the knockout spherical with a win or draw, and will even progress with a defeat, supplied No. 40 Nigeria loses to No. 22 Ireland and the tiebreakers fall the appropriate manner.

The Tenth-ranked Matildas (1-1-0) have to win to make sure of progressing. A draw will even work if Nigeria loses by two objectives.

Australia has not gone out within the group stage since 2003. Canada’s final early exit was in 2011, when it did not win a recreation and completed final within the match in a disastrous exhibiting.

Nigeria simply must keep away from defeat to maneuver on. The Super Falcons have the sting over Canada in objectives scored and would end atop the group if each groups win Monday.

And whereas Canada simply wants a single level to maneuver on, Lacasse says the staff needs extra.

“I don’t think we’re a team to settle for the minimum,” she stated. “We’re not going to go in there wanting a draw. We want the (win), we want the three points and we want to be top of this group.”

Finishing atop the pool means avoiding the winner of Group D, with No. 4 England within the driver’s seat there. The Group B winner will face the runner-up in Group D, which is at present No. 13 Denmark by advantage of a tiebreaker over No. 14 China. 

Canada additionally needs to make an announcement by successful what is taken into account one of many hardest teams on the match.

“Every team in this group is a formidable opponent,” stated Grosso. “Everyone showed that they belong at the World Cup … so to come out on top of this group, it’s going to be a very strong footing going forward.”

Canada is 8-7-3 all-time in opposition to Australia and has received the final three conferences, together with final yr’s 1-0 and 2-1 victories in Brisbane and Sydney, respectively. The Canadians are 6-2-2 in opposition to the Matildas this century.

Adriana Leon scored all three objectives within the two most up-to-date victories.

The Canadians rallied for a 2-1 comeback victory over Ireland after taking part in Nigeria to a scoreless draw of their match opener. Australia was upset 3-2 by Nigeria after edging Ireland 1-0.

Asked if the match has seen the perfect of Canada, Grosso stated there’s “lots to come.”

There are some questions nonetheless to be answered with the well being of the staff. Captain Christine Sinclair limped off the sphere after an impactful spell as a second-half substitute in opposition to Ireland, whereas centre again Kadeisha Buchanan, coping with sickness and taking a ball to the torso, exited early. 

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