Sam Kerr available against Canada in do-or-die World Cup clash

Sam Kerr has revealed whether she is fit for the Matildas’ crucial final group-stage fixture against Canada - but one key mystery remains.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 29: Sam Kerr of Australia speaks to the media during an Australian Matildas media opportunity in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 at Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre on July 29, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Sam Kerr has revealed whether she is fit for the Matildas’ critical final group-stage game against Canada.

The star striker fronted a press conference on Saturday ahead of the must-win clash, coming after a shock loss to Nigeria in Brisbane left the Matildas on the brink of a disastrous group-stage exit in their maiden home World Cup.

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Kerr was sensationally ruled out of the tournament opener against Ireland with a calf injury a mere hour before kick-off, the severity of which has to date been unclear.

Kerr confirmed she was fit to play against the Olympic champions at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Monday night, telling press she had trained on Saturday and “is as good as I can be”.

While Kerr is available for selection, the role she plays and whether she plays a full 90 minutes is unclear.

“I’m definitely going to be available,” Kerr said.

“But how we decide to use that is not to be given to the opposition is the main thing.”

Kerr has been spotted in camp with strapping on her calf. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Kerr has been relegated to an onlooker this World Cup. (Photo by Patrick Hamilton / AFP)

“I would love to tell you guys everything but it’s a massive thing the opposition wants to know and as Tony (Gustavsson) said yesterday it’s going to go down to the wire,” she said.

“I had my boots on today, which was very exciting. I feel very excited about the day after tomorrow.”

Kerr said she was not used to calf injuries, which are notoriously fickle.

“I’ve never had an injury like this before in my career,” she said.

“Normally when I’ve been injured it’s been a really big one where I’ve been out for months on end. It’s obviously disappointing and then I had to suck it up.

“I’ve been lucky enough over the last couple of years. I’ve always been on the pitch with this team. I’ve always had team mates that have not been on the pitch and supported me and got me over the line so that’s been my role the last 10 days and to be honest it’s an honour to be here.

“The most important thing is that I’m a good teammate and I support my team.

“I’m lucky to have a small injury compared to some other people.”

Kerr was upbeat in Saturday’s press conference. Picture: Richard Walker

The Matildas have sorely missed attacking stocks this World Cup, particularly with concussions ruling out Manchester City star Mary Fowler ahead of the Nigeria game, and Kyah Simon battling rehabilitation from an ACL injury.

Kerr said it was always the plan to miss the first two game and reassess the injury for the heavyweight clash against the 7th-ranked Canadians.

Coach Tony Gustavsson said after the loss to Nigeria that Kerr’s injury status was at front of mind.

“All I can say now is that I hope so (that she’ll be ready to play),” Gustavsson said in a heated press conference centred on his attacking tactics in the absence of the decorated Ballon d’Or nominee.

“I know it’s going to be tight. I said in a press conference yesterday … I most likely will not get the confirmation on that until the night before the game. And then we’ll go from there.

“It might even be (the case) where we need to test her to see if she can play on game day. “That’s how tight it is, I know that, I can say already now so everyone knows what it’s like.

“I know we’re going to get questions from now all the way to the game, but I can say already now I’m not going to be able to tell you that until either the night before the game or on game day, because that’s how long we’ll have to wait to see if she’s available or not.”

Manchester City’s Mary Fowler is also set to return against Canada from a concussion layoff. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Gustavsson said that Kerr had been pushing hard to play against Canada in her time off the pitch.

“That’s her mindset and that is what I love about Sam,” he said.

“I know that she wants to be out there and she deserves to be out there and if she can be out there she will be out there.

“If she is available we will come up with a plan with the staff to determine what is the best way to maximise the potential minutes that she has going into this game (against Canada).”

Football Australia have been secretive about Kerr’s injury status, with coach Gustavsson explaining that the pre-match secrecy and the late announcement of her withdrawal against Ireland was done for strategic reasons as much as anything else.

Gustavsson pleaded with fans after the game to “understand” why the decision was made to engage in some mild subterfuge.

“I hope you and the media understand the position not to say,” Gustavsson said.

“Some people might wonder why we weren’t honest in the press conference. We didn’t have all the information either. We were waiting for the scans at that moment too.

“A lot of it is tactics and you don’t want to give away anything. Sam is a massive part of our game plan and Ireland’s game plan. We wanted to protect Sam and the team emotionally not to have to answer all the questions.

“It was a tough 24 hours mentally for the team. I think they handled it magnificently. The way Sam led the team speech in the locker room and today as well, she means a lot for the team, even though she is not on the park.”

Without Sam Kerr, Gustavsson was forced to throw defender Alanna Kennedy (right) up front against Nigeria. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Ireland coach Vera Pauw would later confirm her side only found out about Kerr’s absence after the Australian team sheet was submitted.

The call copped a barrage of criticism from some areas of the sporting press.

The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie wrote an opinion piece after the 1-0 victory over Ireland, calling the decision “sneaky and deceitful”.

“What a dishonest way to treat their supporters,” Ritchie wrote.

“Announcing it so late was calculating and conniving. Ever heard of transparency?

“If Kerr was injured, why not tell the nation, who spent Thursday promoting and lauding Kerr and her teammates in anticipation of a global sporting extravaganza.”

Gustavsson has struggled for attacking ideas this World Cup without Kerr’s brilliance. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

News Corp’s Todd Balym said while “covering up injuries is nothing new in sport”, the way it was handled was tantamount to “lying”.

“Fronting a press conference 24 hours before biggest game of your life knowing you won’t play is just lying,” Balym said.

“Poses (a) gambling integrity risk when (there is) no transparency.”

Despite the criticism and the routine nature of the decision for football, fans were united behind the call to wait until the last minute to reveal Kerr wouldn’t play the opener against Ireland, praising it as a decision made in the interests of the nation.

The loss to Nigeria on Thursday leaves the Matildas needing a win to progress to the round of 16.