The stress is on for Australia. The Australians entered this Ladies’s World Cup as co-hosts trying to win the event on dwelling soil, and shortly struggled.
After dropping their star striker Sam Kerr proper earlier than the primary sport, Australia eked out a win over scrappy Eire, 1-0, earlier than falling to Nigeria, 3-2. Now, the Australians are in a struggle for his or her event lives, successfully needing a win over Canada to advance. The excellent news is that Kerr is again, as she mentioned on Saturday that she could be out there in opposition to Canada. However she gained’t begin, her staff mentioned Monday simply earlier than the sport, and it stays to be seen how a lot she may play, if in any respect.
The Australians will take all she may give as they attempt to beat a Canadian staff that shares their title ambitions.
Canada vs. Australia
Essentially the most anticipated matchup of Group B sees Canada, making an attempt to ascertain itself as a contender regardless of a shaky begin, dealing with the host nation Australia, a staff that faltered in its most up-to-date loss to Nigeria, 3-2. Australia misplaced three key gamers to harm forward of that Nigeria match, together with Kerr, its main scorer and the face of the staff who has missed the primary two video games of this event. Kerr, who sustained a calf harm in coaching forward of the opening match, mentioned Saturday that she is again coaching and can be out there for the sport in opposition to Canada.
If Canada wins, Australia is out of this World Cup. Canada has gained its final three matchups with Australia, and also will be trying to keep away from a loss to have the very best shot at advancing to the knockout rounds.
Eire vs. Nigeria
That is Eire’s final match on this World Cup, after a loss to Canada eradicated the staff final week. Its farewell gained’t be a simple one. Nigeria is at present main Group B after drawing with Canada, 0-0, and upsetting Australia, 3-2. With the Irish exiting regardless, their final act may very well be taking part in spoiler — in the event that they shock Nigeria with a win, the Nigerians’ possibilities of advancing will depend on purpose distinction.
However Nigeria has proved to be a lot stronger than its No. 40 rating would recommend. “I might say that we have been underestimated and underappreciated,” Coach Randy Waldrum mentioned on Sunday. Because it stands, the Nigerians are poised to make the knockout rounds for simply the third time in this system’s historical past.