Sinclair, Kerr both ready to go as Canada, Australia clash at Women’s World Cup
MELBOURNE — The exit door on the FIFA Women’s World Cup might swing open for Canada on Monday. Or the Canadians might use it to usher out co-host Australia.
The stakes couldn’t be larger on the ultimate day of Group B play.
“We know it’s going to a fight (Monday). They’re fighting for their life,” veteran Canadian midfielder Sophie Schmidt stated of the Tenth-ranked Matildas. “But we’re prepared as best we can be for what they have to offer. We know what we have to do to get the result.”
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“I think that we have a long World Cup run ahead of us,” she added. “(Monday) is a massive big step for us. But we’re up for the challenge.”
Australia coach Tony Gustafsson additionally described the sport as large, calling it “a crossroads moment, for sure.”
Nigeria (1-0-1, 4 factors) leads Group B forward of Canada (1-0-1) by advantage of getting scored another objective. Australia (1-1-0) is one level behind with Ireland (0-2-0) already eradicated from advancing. Only the highest two within the group transfer on.
The permutations favour seventh-ranked Canada, which can advance with a win or draw whereas the Matildas have to win to make sure of advancing.
“We know the fate’s in our hand,” stated Canada coach Bev Priestman.
The Canadians can nonetheless preserve going with a loss, offering Nigeria loses to Ireland in Brisbane and finally ends up on the improper finish of a tiebreaker. And Australia might advance with a draw if Nigeria is overwhelmed and the tiebreakers favour the Matildas.
What could resolve the end result is which variations of Canada and Australia present up Monday.
Both had their points getting previous No. 22 Ireland and stumbled towards upstart Nigeria, with Canada drawing the Fortieth-ranked Super Falcons 0-0 and Australia dropping 3-2.
“Ultimately if we turn up — and we turned up in the second half for sure in the last game (against Ireland), then we can go and get three points,” stated Priestman. “And it’s got to be about us bringing what we bring and getting the best out of the group in front of us. That is the focus, is to be brave and be what we bring and bring it well.”
Priestman stated Canada will go for the win regardless of the very fact a draw will suffice, saying in case you play for a single level “you’re not playing on your strengths.”
Gustafsson, in the meantime, stated his group should watch out to not permit the Canadians counterattacking alternatives because the Matildas press for a outcome.
Both groups got here to the event with excessive expectations.
The Canadians regarded to translate their gold-medal efficiency on the 12-country Tokyo Olympics into success on the 32-country World Cup, having exited within the spherical of 16 4 years in the past in France.
Australia had the load of a nation on its shoulders, realizing no host group has ever didn’t make the knockout rounds on the eight earlier editions of the event (co-host New Zealand grew to become the primary Sunday when it tied Switzerland to complete third in Group A on objective distinction behind Norway).
There are damage query marks over each groups.
Star striker Sam Kerr missed Australia’s first two video games with a calf damage, however instructed reporters Saturday that she is accessible for the Canada recreation. Just how a lot of a job the Matildas captain will play stays to be seen.
Gustafsson stated a gathering was deliberate for later Sunday to debate Kerr’s standing, with the group’s medical workers and the participant concerned, with health exams scheduled for Monday. One concern is the chance of aggravating the damage and dropping her for an extended time.
“So there’s a lot on the table to discuss,” Gustafsson stated. “We probably won’t know how exactly we’re going to use that (information) until we come here to the stadium (Monday).”
Canadian midfielder Jessie Fleming stated her group is prepared for no matter lineup Australia fields.
“I think she’s just one player,” stated Fleming, who performs alongside Kerr at England’s Chelsea. “We’re making ready for the sport the identical no matter whether or not or not she performs, how a lot she performs. I feel they’ve an excellent group with or with out her.
“Myself and the whole team are familiar with the quality she brings. She’s a threat in the (penalty) box but our backline has dealt with her before. I think we feel confident that we can deal with her again if she comes on the pitch.”
Kerr is the Matildas’ all-time main scorer with 63 objectives in 120 appearances.
Canada captain Christine Sinclair, enjoying in her sixth World Cup, limped off the sector after making an impactful look off the bench towards Ireland, whereas centre again Kadeisha Buchanan, battling sickness, exited within the dying minutes of the primary half.
But the 2 took half within the portion of apply open to the media with Sinclair sporting SpiderTech tape on her proper knee. Priestman stated each might be obtainable Monday.
Three of Canada’s backline — Vanessa Gilles, Ashley Lawrence and Buchanan — and ahead Evelyne Viens are on yellow playing cards, that means they face a one-game ban in the event that they acquire one other Monday.
Canada is 8-7-3 all-time towards Australia and has received the final three conferences, together with final 12 months’s 1-0 and 2-1 victories in Brisbane and Sydney, respectively. So enjoying earlier than a hostile crowd in Australia is nothing new to this Canadian group.
Adriana Leon scored all three objectives within the two most up-to-date victories, which upped Canada’s report towards the Matildas to 6-2-2 this century.
The Group B winner will face the Group D runner-up and vice versa within the spherical of 16. No. 4 England presently tops Group D with No. 13 Denmark in second, forward of No. 14 China on a tiebreaker.
“At this point anything can happen,” stated Priestman, requested whether or not avoiding her native England was motivation. “Right now it’s just abut getting three points. If we want to be the best, we’ve got to beat the best. Ultimately we’ll just be aiming for three points (Monday) and get that job done and (then) face the team in front of us.”
The showdown at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, higher know to locals at AAMI Park, kicks off at 8 p.m. native time (6 a.m. ET in Canada).
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