Live: Ireland face Australia in opening World Cup game

20.07.2023 - 10:01 breakingnews.ie

10:53am Ireland are about to kick off their 2023 World Cup campaign against hosts Australia. Ireland's Women Team face a tough opening game for the 2023 World Cup against hosts Australia.

They have received a huge boost however before the game with news that Aussie star Sam Kerr has been ruled out for the game.

The Australian captain has been ruled out of two games of the Women's World Cup, after picking up a calf injury in training a day earlier.

The team said she would re-assessed by the medical team after Australia's second group stage match on July 27 against Nigeria.

cup Sam Kerr Tony Gustavsson Courtney Brosnan Usa Australia Ireland Nigeria state New Jersey county Kerr county Republic county Roscommon

Sam Kerr came off the bench as Australia surged into the Women's World Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Denmark in front of nearly 76,000 fans in Sydney on Monday. The co-hosts will play France or Morocco on Saturday in Brisbane in the last eight after making fairly light work of a toothless Denmark. To cap a good night's work for the Matildas, talismanic striker and captain Kerr came on with 10 minutes left to huge cheers for her first action of the tournament after a calf injury. The dangerous Caitlin Foord terrorised Denmark throughout and scored a fine first after being set up by Mary Fowler on 29 minutes. Hayley Raso grabbed a second to make the game safe 20 minutes from time.

Hayley Raso Stars As Australia Reach World Cup Last 16 And Dump Canada Out

Hayley Raso scored twice for Australia in a statement 4-0 win over Canada as the fired-up co-hosts booked their place in the last 16 of the Women's World Cup on Monday at the expense of the Olympic champions. Tony Gustavsson's team came into the clash with their backs to the wall, needing victory to ensure they made the knockout round after a stunning 3-2 defeat at the hands of Nigeria left them on a knife-edge. In front of a heaving Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, they thrived on the pressure to the delight of the raucous 27,706 fans, consigning Canada to an early flight home. Real Madrid's Raso put them ahead in the ninth minute, firing low into the corner after captain Steph Catley fed a teasing low cross.

Australia Face Must-Win FIFA Women's World Cup Clash, Japan Take On Spain

Co-hosts Australia have to beat Canada on Monday or risk an unthinkable exit from the Women's World Cup in the first round, while former champions Japan take on Spain with top spot in their group on the line. Australia are sweating on the fitness of star forward and captain Sam Kerr for the Group B game against Canada in Melbourne which starts at 1000 GMT and where only a win will guarantee them a place in the last 16. Kerr has missed the Matildas' two matches so far, in which they beat the Republic of Ireland 1-0 but then suffered a surprise 3-2 defeat against Nigeria.

Australia's World Cup legacy on the line against Canada, says coach

MELBOURNE : Australia's hopes of a legacy-defining Women's World Cup will be at stake when they play Canada in Monday's Group B crunch match and the co-hosts' campaign will be a failure if they are eliminated before the knockout phase, coach Tony Gustavsson said.