FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: Australia eyes Sam Kerr return in last 16

Australia coach Tony Gustavsson hinted that Sam Kerr will play a component in its final 16 conflict on the Women’s World Cup towards Denmark on Monday after the star striker returned to coaching.

The Matildas captain has but to see any minutes on the match after a calf harm sustained earlier than their opening recreation.

But she took an enormous step in the direction of her restoration by resuming coaching with a ball on Saturday and will lastly be thrust into motion.

“We had a nice moment with the team yesterday to see her back with her boots on and touching the ball and being with the team in training,” stated Gustavsson.

“It was a very good feeling for Sam, her teammates and me. She is a player we will talk about tonight to see how many minutes would be most suitable, looking at 90 minutes and extra-time and how do I get the best out of Sam Kerr in a game plan tomorrow,” he added.

Australia didn’t want Kerr’s goal-scoring prowess in a formidable 4-0 win over Olympic champion Canada in its remaining must-win group recreation, with Hayley Raso, Mary Fowler and Steph Catley all hitting the mark.

The raucous spectators additionally performed a component and Gustavsson stated a possible 70,000-plus crowd at Stadium Australia in Sydney would once more be essential to get them right into a quarterfinal towards both France or Morocco.

“The one thing I want to emphasise is the support from the stands,” he stated. “The way the supporters have carried us through these games, the players feed off that.”

Australia beat Denmark 3-1 in a pleasant final 12 months, however Gustavsson is cautious of the risk posed by a aspect that pushed European champion England laborious in a 1-0 group stage loss.

“I’ve been very impressed, so we need to be humble and realise that we need to focus in every single second tomorrow and be as solid defensively as we were against Canada,” he stated.

“They have threats left and right and in very different ways. It’s going to be tough and we need to bring our A game.”

Other than Kerr, Australia additionally has harm worries, with each striker Kyah Simon and winger Cortnee Vine to be assessed earlier than kick-off.