By Canadian Press

Australian star Sam Kerr starts on bench against Canada at FIFA Women’s World Cup

Jul 31, 2023 | 3:18 AM

MELBOURNE, Australia — Australian striker Sam Kerr, sidelined by injury for the first two games of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, started on the bench in Monday’s do-or-die Group B finale against Canada.

The Chelsea star suffered a calf injury on the eve of the competition, with the 10th-ranked Matildas saying she would be re-evaluated before the Canada contest. It was expected she would see limited action as a substitute against Canada.

On Saturday, Kerr told reporters she would be available to play against Canada but did not divulge what kind of role she might have. on Sunday, Australia coach Tony Gustavsson said he planned to meet with Kerr and the medical staff later that day to discuss “the possibilities for her to play” in advance of a fitness test Monday.

He also noted the risk of coming back from a muscle injury.

“We need to balance how many minutes is she available? What are the risks if we manage to go through to the (knockout rounds), playing time and so forth? So there’s a lot on the table to discuss. We probably won’t know how exactly we’re going to use that (information) until we come here to the stadium (Monday).”

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The final decision would be up the medial staff and Kerr, he said.

The Canadian question-marks for the game were captain Christine Sinclair and centre back Kadeisha Buchanan.

The 40-year-old Sinclair, appearing in her sixth World Cup, limped off the field in Wednesday’s 21-1 win over Ireland in Perth where she helped trigger a second-half Canadian comeback after coming on as a halftime substitute. Buchanan, dealing with illness, exited late in the first half of that game.

Both Sinclair and Buchanan were in the starting 11 Monday, with Evelyne Viens shifting to the bench to make room for Sinclair in the lone change to the Canadian lineup.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 31, 2023

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press