Australia’s Fowler, Luik join Kerr on injured list ahead of World Cup game vs. Nigeria
Brisbane, Australia (AP) — Mary Fowler joined star striker Sam Kerr on the damage checklist Wednesday on the eve of Australia’s Women’s World Cup sport towards Nigeria, testing the depth of the Matildas’ attacking assets.
Australian captain Kerr missed the Matildas’ opening sport final week due to a calf muscle damage that was publicly revealed simply an hour earlier than kick off, silencing a document crowd of just about 76,000 on the match.
The damage can even hold her out of Thursday’s Group B sport towards Nigeria — and maybe longer than that.
Manchester City striker Fowler changed Kerr within the 1-0 win over Ireland however was largely contained by the protection. Fowler and defender Aivi Luik sustained delicate concussions in separate follow accidents, the Matildas introduced Wednesday. The group stated each gamers have recovered and have commenced Football Australia’s graduated return to play protocools.
Having the World Cup on house soil has given Australia’s group the arrogance it could actually contend for the title even with out some their largest stars on the sector.
The Matildas are pitching it as an opportunity to point out the depth of their squad.
“I think we could play any one of us right now in the starting 11 and it would be the same as what we do on the training pitch,” midfielder Tameka Yallop stated from Australia’s group camp in Brisbane earlier within the week. “So I think everyone has that ability and capability to step up and be a star at any point.”
Steph Catley, carrying the captain’s armband rather than Kerr, transformed a penalty kick for co-host Australia’s opening win. Despite the win, the Matildas’ offense struggled to create scoring alternatives, with solely two photographs heading in the right direction.
Against a Nigeria group that held Canada to a scoreless attract its Group B opener, Australia might want to show that it has gamers all through the group that may be difference-makers in Kerr’s absence.
“I think we’ve got the best squad that we’ve had,” Yallop stated.
Building depth has been a precedence for Tony Gustavsson all through his first three years accountable for the Matildas. Shortly after he was employed, a December 2020 efficiency report launched by Football Australia confirmed this system had the least general depth of the 12 main nations analyzed.
The Matildas’ struggles to switch injured defender Clare Polkinghorne through the 2019 Women’s World Cup contributed to their exit within the spherical of 16, their worst end since 2003.
To put together for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, the Matildas emphasised the event of younger gamers. Gustavsson’s group has come a good distance, and the expansion of Cortnee Vine, Fowler, Clare Hunt, Mackenzie Arnold, Charlotte Grant and Kyra Cooney-Cross into beginning 11-caliber skills offers the group confidence transferring ahead.
The group knew it had the depth essential to contend on the world stage in April when it beat European champion England 2-0 in a pleasant.
“That’s the game where we all felt like it really clicked,” Grant stated earlier within the week. “It’s amazing that we’ve built so much depth over the past one to two years.”
Australia’s win over England featured a aim from 21-year-old Grant and noticed Australia use 9 gamers who didn’t play within the 2019 Women’s World Cup. Gustavsson’s willingness to provide younger gamers minutes in huge video games fueled the group’s perception within the potential of every member of the squad.
Fowler and Vine have been among the many gamers being thrust into key roles in assault. The return of Yallop and Grant from damage and sickness for the Nigeria does return some depth towards an opponent that pissed off Olympic champion Canada.
During the Cup of Nations in February, seven completely different Australian gamers scored in three video games.
“I think that’s why we’re so dangerous,” midfielder Katrina Gorry stated. “You never know where the goals are going to come from.”
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