Is Sam Kerr Playing Against Canada? Everything You Want to Know
by Janani
Updated Aug 01, 2023
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Who is Sam Kerr?
Samantha May Kerr OAM, born on September 10, 1993, is an Australian soccer star playing as a forward for Chelsea in the FA Women's Super League and the Australia women's national team (the Matildas), which she captains since 2019.
She is renowned as one of the best forwards ever. Kerr holds the record for the most goals scored by an Australian international player and is also the all-time leading scorer in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States. She is the only female player to have won the Golden Boot in three different leagues on three continents - W-League, NWSL, and FAWSL.
Kerr began her career at age 15 with Perth Glory and later played for Sydney FC, Western New York Flash, Sky Blue FC, and Chicago Red Stars. In 2019, she moved to Chelsea, where she achieved numerous trophies, including back-to-back-to-back Women's Super League titles and reaching the UEFA Women's Champions League final in 2021.
On the international stage, Kerr has represented Australia in multiple AFC Women's Asian Cup tournaments, FIFA Women's World Cups, and Summer Olympics. She made history by scoring Australia's first-ever World Cup hat trick during the 2019 tournament. In the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics, she captained the team to their first-ever semi-final, resulting in a fourth-place finish.
Kerr has received various accolades and awards throughout her career, including the Young Australian of the Year and the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her contributions to football. She has been consistently recognized as the best player in Australia and has won several ESPY Awards for Best International Women's Soccer Player and Best NWSL Soccer Player.
Known for her speed, skill, and tenacity, Kerr is considered one of the world's top footballers and strikers, as well as one of Australia's greatest athletes. She has earned praise for her backflip goal celebrations and has been nominated for prestigious awards such as the Ballon d'Or Féminin and The Best FIFA Women's Player.
Is Sam Kerr Playing Against Canada?
Yes, Sam Kerr will be playing against Canada. In a crucial Group B clash in Melbourne, the Australian women's soccer team, the Matildas, dominated Canada with a 3-0 lead in the second half. Winger Hayley Raso was the star, scoring two goals, and Mary Fowler added another goal to secure the victory.
Raso's first goal came in the 9th minute when she slotted a driven cross from Steph Catley past the Canadian goalkeeper. Initially ruled offside, VAR overturned the decision, and the goal was awarded.
In the 39th minute, Raso struck again, capitalizing on a corner from Catley that Canada failed to clear properly, allowing her to poke the ball into the net from close range.
Will Sam Kerr Play Against Canada?
Yes, Sam Kerr will play against Canada. Fowler extended the lead in the 58th minute, sweeping home a perfect cutback from Caitlin Foord. Although her finish hit the post and trickled over, Fowler made sure the ball found the back of the net.
The Matildas thought they had a second goal from Fowler, but it was ruled out due to an offside call against Ellie Carpenter. Before halftime, Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson received a yellow card for his frustration with a referee's decision.
Despite being named in the lineup, superstar striker Sam Kerr started on the bench due to a calf injury, raising questions about her fitness and potential playing time.
With this victory, the Matildas remain in contention to progress to the knockout stage. They will need a win in their final game or a draw if Ireland beats Nigeria by a sufficient margin. Canada can progress with a draw against Australia, while Nigeria can advance with a draw against Ireland.
Australia's lineup featured Mackenzie Arnold, Steph Catley, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Hunt, Ellie Carpenter, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Emily van Egmond, Hayley Raso, Mary Fowler, and Caitlin Foord. Canada's lineup included Kailen Sheridan, Ashley Lawrence, Vanessa Gilles, Kadeisha Buchanan, Jayde Riviere, Quinn, Julia Grosso, Jessie Fleming, Jordyn Huitema, Christine Sinclair, and Adriana Leon.
Sam Kerr Press Conference
Sam Kerr has confirmed that she is fit and available for selection in Australia's crucial Women's World Cup match against Canada. The prolific striker missed the first two games due to a calf injury, but she expressed her readiness to play. However, the exact role she will play remains a mystery, and the decision will be kept secret from the opposition.
The coach, Tony Gustavsson, is eager to have Kerr back on the team, but her fitness will only be confirmed the night before the game, and there might be a need to test her on the match day itself. Kerr stated that the plan has always been to miss the first two games and then assess her fitness. Both she and the coach are optimistic about her return but are cautious about sharing details with the opposition.
Despite the shock loss to Nigeria, Gustavsson remains upbeat about the team's performance, emphasizing the improvements in their attacking game. He believes they played well despite the result and needs to focus on physical and mental recovery for the upcoming match against Canada. The coach praises the team's never-say-die attitude and determination, which will be crucial for them to bounce back mentally and perform well in the next game.
Is Sam Kerr Playing Tonight?
The availability of Sam Kerr could be crucial for the host nation's chances against the Olympic champions, Canada, in their final group game at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. Matilda's coach Tony Gustavsson stated that Kerr will be available to play, but only for limited minutes.
If Australia is behind or tied with their opponents, there's a chance she might be brought in later in the match to search for a crucial goal. However, if Australia is leading, it's unlikely she will be risked.
Kerr herself confirmed on Saturday that she would be available for the Canada match, but the final decision would be made after a fitness test on Monday before the game. The coach mentioned that the plan was always for her to miss the first two games and then be assessed for this one, and it would be a close call as to whether she will play against Canada.
Will Sam Kerr Play in The World Cup?
Australia's hopes at the 2023 Women's World Cup have taken a hit due to the absence of captain and star striker, Sam Kerr, who missed the first two games of the tournament due to a calf injury. The team suffered a loss against Nigeria and is now in danger of facing a historic group-stage exit if they don't secure a win against Canada in their final group game.
Kerr's injury has left a void in the team's attack and creativity. Without her on the pitch, Australia lacked a cutting edge in finishing, as evidenced by their loss to Nigeria despite dominating in various statistical aspects. The absence of Kerr also affected players like Caitlin Foord, who plays well alongside her as a No. 10 but was pushed into the No. 9 role in Kerr's absence.
Additionally, the lack of fully fit forwards in the squad became apparent, leading to questionable squad selection and late substitutions. The team had limited attacking options, forcing the coach to make unconventional changes to find goals.
Apart from her goal-scoring ability, Kerr's leadership and motivation have been missed on the field. She is seen as the team's spiritual leader, and her absence has affected the team's morale.
Facing Canada in a must-win match, the big question is how much Kerr will be involved. She has declared herself fit, and her presence could be crucial in turning the team's fortunes around. With Kerr on the pitch, Australia believes they have a chance to advance to the last 16, but Canada, as the Olympic champions, will present a tough challenge.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Kerr's fitness, her potential game-changing ability remains crucial to Australia's hopes of avoiding an embarrassing early exit from their home World Cup.
Sam Kerr Career
Sam Kerr, an Australian professional footballer, started her football career at Western Knights in Mosman Park. She later moved to Perth Glory in 2008 and made her debut at the age of 15 in the 2009 W-League season. Kerr received several awards during her time at Perth Glory, including the Players' Player and Goal of the Year.
In 2013, she signed with Western New York Flash in the NWSL and had a successful season, scoring six goals. She returned to the Flash in 2014 and was their leading scorer with nine goals.
Kerr then rejoined Perth Glory in 2014 and had an outstanding 2016-17 W-League season, winning the Julie Dolan Medal and the Penny Tanner Media MVP Award. She became the first marquee player in the W-League in 2018 and delivered a stellar performance in the 2018-19 season, finishing as the top goal-scorer with 17 goals.
In 2015, she joined Sky Blue FC in the NWSL and continued her goal-scoring prowess. She later moved to Chicago Red Stars in 2018 and won the Golden Boot for two consecutive seasons.
In 2019, Kerr signed with Chelsea in the FA WSL and won multiple titles, including the Women's Super League, the League Cup, and the FA Women's Cup. She had a remarkable 2020-21 season, winning the Golden Boot for the third time and helping Chelsea reach the UEFA Women's Champions League final.
Kerr has had an illustrious international career with the Matildas. She made her debut in 2009 and has represented Australia in multiple FIFA Women's World Cups and the Olympic Games. She became Australia's all-time leading goal-scorer, breaking Tim Cahill's record. Kerr was named captain for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
In addition to her football success, Kerr is featured in various media and endorsement campaigns, including the FIFA video game series and Nike commercials. She is widely regarded as one of the best female footballers in the world.
Is Sam Kerr Playing Against Canada - FAQ
Yes, Sam Kerr will be playing against Canada.
Samantha Kerr is a forward and plays for Chelsea in the FA Women's Super League and the Australia women's national team (the Matildas).
As of 2022, Samantha Kerr is the all-time leading Australian international scorer and the all-time leading scorer in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States. She is also the only female soccer player to have won the Golden Boot in three different leagues on three different continents - W-League, NWSL, and FAWSL.
Samantha Kerr has received several awards and honors, including the Young Australian of the Year in 2018 and a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2022 for her "services to football." She has also won the Julie Dolan Medal as the best player in Australia, the PFA Australian Women's Footballer of the Year five times, and the FWA Women's Footballer of the Year in 2022 and 2023.
Samantha Kerr has represented Australia in major tournaments such as the AFC Women's Asian Cup, FIFA Women's World Cup, and Summer Olympics. She became the first Australian player to score a hat trick at a World Cup tournament during the 2019 World Cup.