Matildas v Canada LIVE: Australia face a Canada side seeking revenge for World Cup rout
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The anthems are playing
Canadian flags are waving inside this small boutique stadium. It looks kind of cold there! Kick-off is coming …
The Starlight Stadium pitch is artificial
Which means it will be bouncy, and very possibly harder on the playersâ bodies. This is an issue in general, but also more recently given the big burdens many footballers have endured in recent months, with little rest after the World Cup and a lot of travel. From Australia, all the big guns travelled to Perth – many from Europe and the US – and the vibes here are that many of the bigger faces will be rested as much as possible through this window.
If we are being real about it, Kerrâs foot injury – while undoubtedly irritating for her given her recent struggles with both calves – seems a good chance to stay home with Chelsea and rest. Gustavsson indicated he didnât expect it would not keep her out of the Bluesâ next Womenâs Super League game against Arsenal on December 10.
But I digress … the Canadians will be used to playing on synthetic turf and their starting XI is a strong one. The way Australia play may look a little different, too, given many attacking weapons are either injured or not starting. Mary Fowler, Hayley Raso and Caitlin Foord – all players who had big, big says in that 4-0 World Cup win – are on the bench. Cortnee Vine is also out injured. We already know Kerr is not there. What happens out there is anyoneâs guess until the match starts, because this effectively a second side. It has shades of the youth of that team that lost 7-0 to Spain last year. Eek. Sorry, couldnât help it.
On the plus side, this is a genuinely big chance for many of these players. For Rule and Hunter. For Alex Chidiac, who hasnât quite been able to show her best in her limited opportunities under Gustavsson. For Amy Sayer and Clare Wheeler, who were both excellent in the recent Olympic qualifiers.
Could Sinclair be off to work with Ryan Reynolds?
The actor has said she would be welcome at Wrexham. Sinclair, who helped Canada to three Olympic medals including gold at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games, will call time on a glittering international career, which includes 190 goals – a record across the menâs and womenâs game – with these two friendlies (she starts on the bench today).
As the 40-year-old prepares to take her final bow, tributes have been pouring in including one from Canadian Hollywood actor Reynolds, who joked that her next soccer job could be with Wrexham, the club he owns with fellow actor Rob McElhenney.
With their celebrity owners and hit television series âWelcome to Wrexhamâ, the Welsh team, who play in the fourth tier of the English football league, have captured the spotlight and imagination of fans around the world.
âMoving on in your career to Wrexham, itâs huge for the town, the club,â smiled Reynolds, in a video to Sinclair played during an interview with CBC. âI think that you are going to be probably the key difference maker going forward up there in North Wales.â
Sinclair, who was caught off guard, played along. âFor the right amount of money I could go,â she said. Reynolds, who like Sinclair is from Vancouver, also had a serious message, thanking her for everything she has done to grow the sport. âWhat I really wanted to do is thank you,â he said. âI wanted to thank you for inspiring me, my kids, kids all over Canada and the world, young, old, middle-aged. Youâre incredible and you deserve all the applause that hands could possibly give. Sending you tons of love.â
Canadaâs XI
Teams
That last time these two teams met, coach Tony Gustavsson experimented with his XI that day through necessity. This time he is doing it for kicks. Just kidding, but he is experimenting. Again he is without Kerr, who withdrew from the squad with a foot injury, along with additional withdrawals Mackenzie Arnold (triceps), Charli Grant (hamstring), Holly McNamara (ACL).
But he said in his pre-match press conference yesterday he intended to use this first game in particular as one of the final chances to test out players before those final Olympic qualifiers, home and away against Uzbekistan, in February. After that (if successful) will be all about fine-tuning, so this really is the only window to unearth another gem.
With that in mind, he has given international debuts to Brighton and Hove Albionâs Charlize Rule and Paris FCâs Sarah Hunter. Teagan Micah is in goal.
Hello and welcome!
Well, the Matildas took Australia by storm this year and who better to close out said triumphant 2023 against than Canada? If the term âreigning Olympic gold medallistsâ rings any bells, thatâs because it was all the media were writing in July, in the days leading up to the Matildasâ final World Cup group game. The one they effectively had to win to make it to the knockout stages (remember the Nigeria loss before it?) and the one which would be especially tough to win because Canada are the âreigning Olympic gold medallistsâ.
We all know what happened in that match at AAMI Park, where a Sam Kerr-less outfit won 4-0 and topped the group. This time around there is very little at stake, except that these two friendlies double as a farewell for one of the gameâs genuine greats, Christine Sinclair. Canada coach Bev Priestman has not attached any other meaning to the fixtures than that, and has deliberately played down any suggestion of vengeance.
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