Australia’s Women’s World Cup hopes are on the line as the Matildas take on Canada on Monday, July 31.
The team will be taking on the North American country in Melbourne’s Rectangular Stadium from 8pm to be broadcast on Optus Sport and Channel Seven.
“While it’s hard to imagine that Kerr’s injured calf is fully recovered after she, at the very least, strained it two weeks ago, if she says she is fit then there’s no use in delaying her comeback any further,” Slater said in Code Sports.
“Starting her on the bench in Melbourne and bringing her on, a likely substitution scenario should the Matildas be in desperate need of a goal in the second half, would be another mistake from coach Tony Gustavsson.
“Instead, Kerr should play from the opening whistle.”
Canadian coach Bev Priestman told her team to put the headlines around Sam Kerr to the side, and instead to ficus on the task at hand.
“There’s a lot around about what might come up in front of us, but ultimately I know this team and if we turn up, we can go and get three points,” she said.
“The focus is to be brave and bring what we bring and bring it well.
“Have I spoken about, ‘Is she or isn’t she?’ “No I haven’t,” she said.
“We’ve spoken about what it takes to beat Australia because Australia is not just Sam Kerr.
“I want to get three points, that’s all I’m focused on, to move on and into the next game. If that means we knock out the co-hosts, then we knock out the co-hosts.”
Canada v Australia
Date: Monday, 31 July 2023
Venue: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne
Kick-Off: 8:00 pm (AEST)
7:30pm ACST — Northern Territory, South Australia
6pm AWST — Western Australia
Broadcast On: Optus Sport and Channel Seven