Sam Kerr at risk of missing group stage matches of the Women’s World Cup
Australian forward Sam Kerr is at risk of missing group stage matches of the Women’s World Cup. The Australia staff will continue to assess her availability.
Australia’s best player and captain was set to be the face of this World Cup on home soil. However, she has now suffered a calf injury which was kept as a secret until the day of the team’s opening game.
Kerr missed the game against Ireland, which Australia won 1-0. Moreover, she will now also miss the game against Nigeria on Thursday.
Although she might return to face Canada, but there are no guarantees that she will be available for that game. Aussie coach Tony Gustavsson has said that no decision will be made until next week.
Australia left with one striker after another injury blow
Mary Fowler, who replaced missing Sam Kerr in its opening match, was also sidelined with injury. The Manchester City forward suffered a mild concussion in training and is out of the game with Nigeria on Thursday in Brisbane.
The absence of Kerr and Fowler, who scored in the 1-0 friendly win over France on the eve of the World Cup, leaves the Matildas with Arsenal’s Caitlin Foord as their only recognised striker.
Aivi Luik, who was a substitute against Ireland, was also ruled out of the Nigeria game.
Tony Gustavsson defends training methods after several injuries
Australia coach Tony Gustavsson has defended his training methods and squad selection after and injury crisis.
“Sometimes you’re unlucky and you need to deal with the cards you are handed,” said Gustavsson. “We’re ready to play those cards. We have a lot of attacking options still in the roster, but this team has also showed that we’re adaptable.”
“We might have a different profile of player, but we’re still going to have the same identity. We might have a different formation, but we’re still going to have the same identity.”
