Matildas captain Sam Kerr has been benched for a second sport in a row as Australia try to make historical past within the Women’s World Cup quarter-final towards France in Brisbane.
The Chelsea striker missed the whole group stage with a calf damage and was introduced on for simply 12 minutes in Matilda’s spherical of 16 win over Denmark.
Now Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has named an unchanged line-up, rewarding the gamers who beat the Danes 2-0 to kick off the essential quarter-final.
The Matildas have by no means progressed past the quarter-finals at a World Cup and neither have their opponents.
The choice may point out that Kerr has not totally recovered from the calf damage that has plagued her this World Cup, regardless of collaborating in working follow with Matildas teammates on Friday.
Coach Tony Gustavsson mentioned yesterday that Kerr would undoubtedly begin if he was 100% match, however has benched her for the second sport in a row.
That means event heroes Hayley Raso, Mary Fowler, Caitlin Foord and Emily van Egmond might be referred to as up once more to throw the offensive punch within the opening exchanges.
“I want to be very clear here now to say that if Sam is fit to play 90 minutes, she will start,” he instructed reporters. “There isn’t even a question and the team knows it.
“We’re talking about Sam Kerr here. Whether she is ready for 90 minutes plus extra time, that must be decided tonight. But there’s no question that if she is, she’ll start.’
Kerr poses for selfies as she arrives at Brisbane Stadium for the Women’s World Cup quarter-final against France
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson, who arrives at Brisbane Stadium today, previously said Kerr would start if she was 100 per cent fit
Gustavsson was also outraged by the suggestion that starting Kerr would disrupt the rhythm of the Matildas crushing Canada without her and sending Denmark out with minimal input from their captain.
“They are great teammates who support each other,” the coach mentioned of his gamers.
“There are no complaints about whether you start or come off the bench – they know their part and play their part. And I certainly would never see Sam as a disruption to the team.”