One co-host is out. Can Sam Kerr and Australia avoid the same fate?
The stress is on for Australia. The Australians entered this Women’s World Cup as co-hosts trying to win the event on house soil, and shortly struggled.
After dropping their star striker Sam Kerr proper earlier than the primary recreation, Australia eked out a win over scrappy Ireland, 1-0, earlier than falling to Nigeria, 3-2. Now, the Australians are in a combat for his or her event lives, successfully needing a win over Canada to advance. The good news is that Kerr is again, as she mentioned on Saturday that she can be accessible towards Canada. But she gained’t begin, her staff mentioned Monday simply earlier than the sport, and it stays to be seen how a lot she may play, if in any respect.
The Australians will take all she can provide as they attempt to beat a Canadian staff that shares their title ambitions.
Canada vs. Australia
The most anticipated matchup of Group B sees Canada, attempting to determine itself as a contender regardless of a shaky begin, going through the host nation Australia, a staff that faltered in its most up-to-date loss to Nigeria, 3-2. Australia misplaced three key gamers to harm forward of that Nigeria match, together with Kerr, its main scorer and the face of the staff who has missed the primary two video games of this event. Kerr, who sustained a calf harm in coaching forward of the opening match, mentioned Saturday that she is again coaching and will probably be accessible for the sport towards Canada.
If Canada wins, Australia is out of this World Cup. Canada has gained its final three matchups with Australia, and also will be trying to keep away from a loss to have one of the best shot at advancing to the knockout rounds.
Ireland vs. Nigeria
This is Ireland’s final match on this World Cup, after a loss to Canada eradicated the staff final week. Its farewell gained’t be a straightforward one. Nigeria is at present main Group B after drawing with Canada, 0-0, and upsetting Australia, 3-2. With the Irish exiting regardless, their final act may very well be enjoying spoiler — in the event that they shock Nigeria with a win, the Nigerians’ probabilities of advancing will depend on objective distinction.
But Nigeria has proved to be a lot stronger than its No. 40 rating would recommend. “I would say that we were underestimated and underappreciated,” Coach Randy Waldrum mentioned on Sunday. As it stands, the Nigerians are poised to make the knockout rounds for simply the third time in this system’s historical past.
