Sam Kerr Is Set to Get Her Women’s World Cup Campaign Going for Australia after Injury Setback

Sam Kerr of Australia celebrates following their win over Canada during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 soccer Group B match between Ireland and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, 31 July 2023. (EPA)
Sam Kerr of Australia celebrates following their win over Canada during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 soccer Group B match between Ireland and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, 31 July 2023. (EPA)
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Sam Kerr Is Set to Get Her Women’s World Cup Campaign Going for Australia after Injury Setback

Sam Kerr of Australia celebrates following their win over Canada during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 soccer Group B match between Ireland and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, 31 July 2023. (EPA)
Sam Kerr of Australia celebrates following their win over Canada during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 soccer Group B match between Ireland and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, 31 July 2023. (EPA)

In the end, Sam Kerr wasn't needed as Australia advanced to the knockout stages of the Women's World Cup.

But the Matildas’ inspirational captain is finally expected to get on the field against Denmark in the round of 16 on Monday,

“I’m really excited. I will play,” Kerr told Australia's Nine TV network.

The star striker has been sidelined since injuring her left calf on the eve of co-host Australia's first game against Ireland on July 20.

Though she recovered well enough to make the bench against Canada, coach Tony Gustavsson didn't have to ask the Chelsea forward to perform a rescue act as the Matildas routed the Olympic champion 4-0 to top Group B.

While it is still not clear if she will be in the starting 11 against Denmark, both Kerr and Gustavsson are talking as if she will make her entrance at the World Cup at Stadium Australia.

“We had a nice moment as a team yesterday, to see her back with the boots on and touching the ball and be with the team training," Gustavsson said Sunday. "And it was a very good feeling for her and a very good feeling for the players and the teammates and a very good feeling for me.

“Today she was off-feet. It’s all an individual plan for her in training - I trust my (medical) team 100% to prepare her the best way possible."

Gustavsson said he was working on “how to get the best out of Sam Kerr” in the game.

Kerr is one of the biggest sports stars in Australia and has been the face of the country's preparations for the World Cup, which it is co-hosting with New Zealand.

Considered one of the best players in the world, she helped Chelsea to a Women's Super League and FA Cup double last season.

The 29-year-old Kerr was one of the favorites to be the leading scorer in this tournament, but there were initial doubts she would be able to play any part for Australia after sustaining a calf injury in training.

She has won four league titles with Chelsea, as well as three FA Cups and two League Cups.

Kerr scored the winner as Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium last season. The game was played in front of a crowd of 77,390.



South Korea Coach Takes Swipe at Bayern Munich Over Kim Injury

Leverkusen's Patrik Schick (L) in action against Kim Min-jae (R) of Bayern during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 2nd leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich, in Leverkusen, Germany, 11 March 2025.  EPA/FRIEDEMANN VOGEL
Leverkusen's Patrik Schick (L) in action against Kim Min-jae (R) of Bayern during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 2nd leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich, in Leverkusen, Germany, 11 March 2025. EPA/FRIEDEMANN VOGEL
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South Korea Coach Takes Swipe at Bayern Munich Over Kim Injury

Leverkusen's Patrik Schick (L) in action against Kim Min-jae (R) of Bayern during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 2nd leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich, in Leverkusen, Germany, 11 March 2025.  EPA/FRIEDEMANN VOGEL
Leverkusen's Patrik Schick (L) in action against Kim Min-jae (R) of Bayern during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 2nd leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich, in Leverkusen, Germany, 11 March 2025. EPA/FRIEDEMANN VOGEL

South Korea's coach on Monday hit out at Bayern Munich over their handling of Kim Min-jae after the defensive stalwart was ruled out of crunch World Cup qualifiers with an Achilles tendon injury.

The 28-year-old center-back missed Bayern's 1-1 draw at Union Berlin on Saturday and is also out of South Korea's 2026 qualifiers against Oman and Jordan, AFP reported.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said last week that Kim will be out for "several weeks".

Speaking ahead of the home game against Oman on Thursday, South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo said that "Munich failed to properly protect him in terms of injury prevention".

"Kim Min-jae is an extremely important player not only for his club Bayern Munich but also for our national team," Hong told reporters according to Yonhap news agency.

"Just because a match is important doesn't mean it's right to have Kim on the pitch," he added.

Hong said there had been "continuous signs" since last year that Kim was struggling with injury.

"We were fully aware of that," he said.

Victories against Oman and again at home to Jordan on Tuesday next week will send South Korea to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Kim is an ever-present for his country with 69 caps.

He moved to Bayern from then Italian champions Napoli in the summer of 2023 and has gone on to make 73 appearances for the German giants in all competitions.