Fifa Women’s World Cup: uncertainty hangs over Kerr’s future as Australia ponder life without star striker
- Matildas boss Tony Gustavvson refuses to reveal extent of calf injury that kept Sam Kerr out of opening win against Ireland
- Chelsea striker is likely to miss her country’s next Group B game against Nigeria as well
Uncertainty hangs over Sam Kerr’s involvement in the Women’s World Cup after Australia coach Tony Gustavvson refused to reveal the extent of the calf injury that kept his star striker out of the opening win over Ireland on Thursday.
Chelsea forward Kerr has been the public face of the event in Australia throughout the tournament’s lengthy build-up, but the injury sustained in training the day before the tournament kicked off has left the 29-year-old’s involvement in serious doubt.
The Australians face Nigeria in Brisbane next Thursday before taking on Canada in Melbourne on July 31, and will be hoping Kerr can recover for the final group game against the Olympic champions after labouring to their win over the Irish.
“As you all understand it’s obviously devastating for me, for Sam, for the players,” Gustavvson said of the loss of Kerr, who is expected to miss the meeting with the Nigerians.
“I know we have a lot of questions on Sam here, but I also want to respect Sam and the team by not going into too many details of that at this point.
“What I can say is that Sam was very clear early when she brought the team together to say this is not about me, this is about you.
“She wanted to be focused on the team and the players and to be able to do that, in that devastating moment for her personally, says a lot about her as a captain of this team.”
It was stand-in captain Steph Catley who made the difference for Australia against the Irish, scoring from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute to earn Gustavvson’s side a 1-0 win in front of a crowd in excess of 75,000, a record attendance for the Matildas.
