‘A lot on the table’: The key meeting as Matildas play…

Besieged coach Tony Gustavsson claims the Matildas may delay a decision on how – and if – to use captain Sam Kerr in Australia’s crunch FIFA Women’s World Cup clash against Canada on Monday night until just before kick-off.

Having missed Australia’s opening two games of the tournament – including last Thursday night’s shock 3-2 loss to Nigeria – because of a calf injury, Kerr on Saturday said she was ‘available’ for selection for the virtual do-or-die affair.

Kerr also donned her boots for training sessions on Saturday and Sunday at the Matildas’ Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre base.

However after Sunday’s session, which went behind-closed-doors following the initial warm-up. Gustavsson was reluctant to reveal the extent of Kerr’s training involvement.

A meeting involving Gustavsson, the team’s medical staff and Kerr was due to take place on Sunday night but there was no guarantee a decision would be made at the time about the Chelsea star’s participation in the game at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.

Matildas star Sam Kerr was spotted with strapping on her injured leg after training on Sunday, with the session closed to fans and media

Coach Tony Gustavsson claims the Matildas may delay a decision on how – and if – to use the superstar striker until just before kick-off

‘I want to be clear that we knew she was going to miss the first two games and then be assessed going into this game, and that was going to go down to the wire,’ Gustavsson said.

‘We’re going to have a meeting with the medical team and Sam, and discuss what the possibility is for her to play (against Canada).

‘Then we’re going to do some tests (on Monday) to see what it looks like.

‘(With) calf injuries, one thing is that you’re available but there’s also risk when you come back from a muscle injury … so we need to balance how many minutes is she available, with what are the risks if we manage to go through to the playoffs (with) playing time … so there’s a lot on the table to discuss and we probably won’t know how exactly we’re going to use that until we come into the stadium (on Monday).’

Gustavsson, whose coaching methods and tactics have been widely panned during the tournament, admitted it would be a ‘failure’ if the Matildas were knocked out of the tournament in the group stages.

A win over Canada will secure the Matildas a round-of-16.

However, their World Cup dream will be over with a second successive loss, while a draw is also unlikely to be enough to progress to the knockout stages.

Gustavsson admitted it would be a ‘failure’ if the Matildas were knocked out of the tournament in the group stages

Kerr trained twice with the Matildas squad over the weekend but mystery still surrounds her availability for the crucial clash in Melbourne on Monday night

‘We know how this business works that there’s always going to be a lot of opinions … and most likely when you lose the game as well,’ Gustavsson said.

‘As a coach of a team, you’re never better than your last game, so right now I’m sitting up here as not the best of a coach.’

Canada coaching Bev Priestman said she was happy for her reigning Olympic Games gold medallists to spoil the party by eliminating the Matildas from the tournament prematurely.

‘I’m not going to make a headline about knocking the home nation out of the World Cup, but ultimately we want to win, so if that means that we knock Australia out, we knock Australia out,’ Priestman said.

‘I want to get three points. That’s all I’m focused on, to get three points, and move on and move into the next game.’

Priestman said the Canadians had ‘prepared’ to play against the ‘world-class’ Kerr.

‘But, ultimately, we’ve got to get us right. We’ve spoken about what it’s going to take to beat Australia because Australia aren’t just Sam Kerr,’ she said.

Priestman said with Matildas needing to ‘come out’ and chase a win, it would suit Canada’s style.

‘When teams do come out is when we find a way,’ she said.

‘It always feels nice when fate’s in your hands. When there’s three points on the line here, I’d like to think that this group will turn up and go for it, and that’s exactly what we’ll be looking to do.

We are coming into this game ready to go to take three points. You put grit against grit, and I think we see the best out of this group.’