Kerr ‘must play’ next Matilda’s game to keep the Cup dream alive

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has answered the Sam Kerr question on everyone’s lips as his side prepares for a do-or-die group stage match.

The Matildas’ glaring omission has officially become blinding.

There wasn’t much time for head-scratching after Thursday night’s upset 3-2 loss to Nigeria, with plenty of commentators and Matildas fans quick to state the obvious – Sam Kerr must return for Australia’s do-or-die clash against Canada in Melbourne next Monday.

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Australian captain Kerr has missed the Matildas’ first two games due to a calf muscle injury that was publicly revealed just an hour before kick off to Australia’s opening game against Ireland.

The management of the injury and the decision surrounding its late announcement has been subject to intense scrutiny in the days since.

“Well we’ll all know the full extent of Sam Kerr’s injury by the start of the Canada game,” sport journalist Ed Jackson tweeted.

“If she’s in any position to play, she has to take the field. If she doesn’t, it suggests the injury is more ‘tear’ than ‘strain’. What an interesting few days ahead.”

“I don’t know how well Sam Kerr’s recovery is going but she’s in that starting line-up vs. Canada,” another fan wrote.

Injured Matildas captain Sam Kerr applauds the fans after her team's loss in the against Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane on July 27, 2023. Picture: Patrick Hamilton / AFP)

Such is the desperation from Matildas fans, another wrote, “I don’t care whether she’ll use crutches, she must play.”

It would appear that the desperation to return to the pitch also weighs heavy on the star striker, who was seen teary-eyed on the sidelines during Thursday night’s fixture.

As it stands, Kerr is expected to return for the next game against Canada on July 31.

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson’s faced days of criticism over his decision not to disclose the exact details of Kerr’s calf injury until moments before the game against Ireland.

Despite criticism from some corners about the late notice being “dishonest”, fans supported the tactic, viewing it as a strategic move to catch Ireland off-guard and minimise their time to adjust.

Gustavsson defended the decision, emphasising the importance of keeping tactical advantages and protecting the team emotionally.

“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,” he revealed.

The pressure is on for the star striker’s return. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Gustavsson faced a further onslaught of criticism for his tactical choices during Thursday night’s disheartening defeat, revealing Kerr’s inclusion in the next fixture will likely hinge on a fitness test just hours before the game.

Kerr’s fitness was the first inquiry in the post-match press conference after the loss.

“All I can say now is that I hope so (that she’ll be ready to play),” he said.

“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.”

He added Kerr has been insistent on playing.

The Aussies went down 3-2. (Photo by Patrick Hamilton / AFP)

Gustavsson said Kerr would do everything in her power to be on the pitch against Canada.

“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).”

Matildas stood at tenth on the world rankings coming into the Cup, while Nigeria entered the tournament as underdogs at 40th.

Australia’s World Cup campaign is now hanging by a thread. Australia must rally to defeat Canada in their final Group B match to secure a spot in the knockout stages.

Thursday night’s frustration was not limited to the players and pundits; Australian football fan Tom Williams took to Twitter to express his discontent.

“An absolute disgrace. Embarrassing as a host of this tournament. One of the worst results for an Australian national team in recent times,” he posted, venting his disappointment with the team’s performance and Gustavsson’s tactics.

Australian Captain Steph Catley remained resilient but acknowledged the team’s shortcomings.

She praised Nigeria’s proficiency on the counter-attack and finishing, admitting that the Matildas needed to be more patient and clinical in their approach.

Kerr’s return will likely not be confirmed until just hours before Monday’s match against Canada. Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

“A lot of things (went wrong). We weren’t patient enough at times and we weren’t clinical enough,” Catley explained during an interview with Optus Sport.

“We’ve just got to move on as quickly as possible because this is what World Cups are about.”

As the dust settles on the shocking defeat, Australia faces a daunting task ahead.

Their fate in the World Cup now hinges on the match against Canada, and the pressure is on Gustavsson and the Matildas to regroup and deliver a performance worthy of their ambitions. The nation awaits with bated breath, hoping the team can rise above the adversity and secure a place in the knockout stages.

Originally published as Kerr ‘must play’ next Matilda’s game to keep the Cup dream alive