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Besieged coach Tony Gustavsson claims the Matildas might delay a choice on how – and if – to make use of captain Sam Kerr in Australia’s crunch FIFA Girls’s World Cup conflict in opposition to Canada on Monday night time till simply earlier than kick-off.
Having missed Australia’s opening two video games of the event – together with final Thursday night time’s shock 3-2 loss to Nigeria – due to a calf damage, Kerr on Saturday mentioned she was “obtainable” for choice for the digital do-or-die affair.
Kerr additionally donned her boots for coaching periods on Saturday and Sunday on the Matildas’ Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre base.
Nevertheless after Sunday’s session, which went behind-closed-doors following the preliminary warm-up. Gustavsson was reluctant to disclose the extent of Kerr’s coaching involvement.
A gathering involving Gustavsson, the crew’s medical employees and Kerr was because of happen on Sunday night time however there was no assure a choice could be made on the time in regards to the Chelsea star’s participation within the sport at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.
“I wish to be clear that we knew she was going to overlook the primary two video games after which be assessed going into this sport, and that was going to go right down to the wire,” Gustavsson mentioned.
“We’re going to have a gathering. with the medical crew and Sam, and talk about what the likelihood is for her to play (in opposition to Canada).
“Then we’re going to do some assessments (on Monday) to see what it appears like.
“(With) calf accidents, one factor is that you just’re obtainable however there’s additionally danger while you come again from a muscle damage … so we have to steadiness what number of minutes is she obtainable, with what are the dangers if we handle to undergo to the playoffs (with) enjoying time … so there’s loads on the desk to debate and we in all probability gained’t understand how precisely we’re going to make use of that till we come into the stadium (on Monday).”
Gustavsson, whose teaching strategies and techniques have been extensively panned in the course of the event, admitted it could be a “failure” if the Matildas have been knocked out of the event within the group levels.
A win over Canada will safe the Matildas a round-of-16.
Nevertheless, their World Cup dream can be over with a second successive loss, whereas a draw can also be unlikely to be sufficient to progress to the knockout levels.
“We all know how this enterprise works that there’s at all times going to be lots of opinions … and probably while you lose the sport as nicely,” Gustavsson mentioned.
“As a coach of a crew, you’re by no means higher than your final sport, so proper now I’m sitting up right here as not one of the best of a coach.”
Canada teaching Bev Priestman mentioned she was comfortable for her reigning Olympic Video games gold medallists to spoil the occasion by eliminating the Matildas from the event prematurely.
“I’m not going to make a headline about knocking the house nation out of the World Cup, however finally we wish to win, so if that implies that we knock Australia out, we knock Australia out,” Priestman mentioned.
“I wish to get three factors. That’s all I’m targeted on, to get three factors, and transfer on and transfer into the subsequent sport.”
Priestman mentioned the Canadians had “ready” to play in opposition to the “world-class” Kerr.
“However, finally, we’ve acquired to get us proper. We’ve spoken about what it’s going to take to beat Australia as a result of Australia aren’t simply Sam Kerr,” she mentioned.
Priestman mentioned with Matildas needing to “come out” and chase a win, it could swimsuit Canada’s fashion.
“When groups do come out is after we discover a method,” she mentioned.
“It at all times feels good when destiny’s in your arms. When there’s three factors on the road right here, I’d wish to suppose that this group will flip up and go for it, and that’s precisely what we’ll be trying to do.
We’re coming into this sport able to go to take three factors. You set grit in opposition to grit, and I feel we see one of the best out of this group.”
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