The World Cup is lastly right here – with the Matildas set to tackle Ireland of their opening match of the event. But they’ll need to do it with out Sam Kerr, after the Australian famous person dropped an damage bombshell 90 minutes out from kick-off.
Earlier, co-hosts New Zealand shocked Norway within the event opener – with a minute’s silence noticed over the deadly taking pictures in Auckland this morning.
Follow all of the construct up and dwell motion under.
MATILDAS V IRELAND KICK OFF IS AT 8PM AEST
7.05PM: NEW ZEALAND PULL OFF MAJOR UPSET
By Erin Smith
What an upset! New Zealand have defeated Norway 1-0 within the opening sport of the FIFA Women’s World Cup – their first ever World Cup victory.
Norway have been robust contenders to progress out of the group stage however their hopes at the moment are doubtful after a lacklustre outing in opposition to co-hosts New Zealand at Eden Park.
The opening half was a fair battle on the scoreboard ending 0-0 however New Zealand have been the higher crew and seemed probably the most like scoring.
Patience paid off with New Zealand tearing via Norway’s defence and striker Hannah Wilkinson slotting a medical aim previous the keeper within the forty eighth minute.
A late penalty for a handball allowed New Zealand’s Ria Percival an opportunity at a second aim but it surely was fired into the crossbar.
Former Matilda-turned-Kiwi Indiah-Paige Riley was a standout for the hosts within the second half.
New Zealand nonetheless have some massive battles to go although with Philippines an Switzerland up subsequent.
7.00PM: KERR SPEAKS ON SHOCK INJURY NEWS
Aussie sensation Sam Kerr will miss tonight’s World Cup opener in opposition to Ireland, and subsequent week’s sport in opposition to Nigeria after she picked up a calf damage at coaching, with the Matildas confirming the news on social media lower than 90 minutes earlier than they get their World Cup marketing campaign underway.
“Unfortunately I sustained a calf injury yesterday in training. I wanted to share this with everyone so there is no distraction from us doing what we came to achieve,” Kerr posted on Instagram.
“Of course I would have loved to have been out there tonight but I can’t wait to be apart of this amazing journey which starts now.”
Kerr is Australia’s best ever goal-scorer and will likely be assessed by the crew’s medical workers subsequent week to see if she’s any likelihood of returning in time for the ultimate pool sport.
It’s a large loss for the Matildas who’ve relied closely on her unbelievable aerial skill, but it surely offers an opportunity to younger gun Mary Fowler who will begin after she got here on and scored the lone aim in final week’s win over France.
6.45PM: KERR OUT IN WORLD CUP BOMBSHELL
Australia’s World Cup marketing campaign has been rocked by a merciless damage to famous person Sam Kerr, who will miss the Matildas’ opening fixture – and doubtlessly for much longer.
Kerr picked up a calf damage at coaching on Wednesday, and is anticipated to overlook a minimum of two matches.
Coach Tony Gustavsson has opted to play Mary Fowler, who scored the profitable aim in opposition to France, has been named as her alternative.
6.40PM: 80’ NORWAY HIT CROSSBAR
An exciting end looms in Auckland, with Norwegian defender Tuva Hansen thundering a strike into the crossbar with 10 minutes to play.
Meanwhile, the Matildas have arrived on the Olympic Stadium in Sydney.
6.35PM: FA BOSS’ MESSAGE TO AUSSIE FANS
Football Australia boss James Johnson has instructed Australian soccer followers to relish this ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’.
“Enjoy it – this is the World Cup, this is the biggest women’s sporting event in the world and one of the biggest sporting events there is,” he mentioned.
“They only come around once in a lifetime and everyone has any opportunity to come and watch at stadiums or at fan festival sites throughout the country. Enjoy the moment, because it’s going to one to love.
“A women’s World Cup, here on our doorstep. It’s something we’ll remember for many years to come. It’s a good time to be alive and it’s a great time for Australian football. ”
6.25PM: 66’ ARE FOOTBALL FERNS ON VERGE OF HISTORY?
Whisper this one – as a result of we don’t need to jinx it – however New Zealand are on the verge of making historical past.
Because by no means earlier than have their girls received a World Cup sport, from 15 earlier makes an attempt.
But Hannah Wilkinson’s aim has put them within the field seat to register their first ever event victory.
And they’re rising to the event, too, with former Matilda Indiah-Paige Riley thrashing a stinging shot from the sting of the field that pressured an acrobatic save.
6.05PM: 48’ GOAL! NEW ZEALAND OPEN THE WORLD CUP
New Zealand have smashed open the World Cup – with Hannah Wilkinson scoring the primary aim of the event.
And has she put her nation on the trail to the event’s first upset?
Her strike – from six yards out – was unstoppable, and sends the house crowd into raptures.
Norway should regroup, or their World Cup might be derailed earlier than it even actually will get going.
5.50PM: SCORELESS HALF IN WORLD CUP OPENER
An spectacular begin from New Zealand of their World Cup marketing campaign – holding Norway to a scoreless half within the opening match of the event.
Norway are ranked twelfth on this planet to New Zealand’s twenty sixth.
But the house facet Football Ferns have had the higher of the match to this point, with a slight edge within the possession battle and extra passes.
Clear-cut probabilities, nevertheless, have been arduous to return by. There have been zero pictures heading in the right direction.
5.35PM: MASSIVE BETTING PLUNGE ON KERR
If Australia are to drag off a historic triumph of their dwelling World Cup, likelihood is Sam Kerr goes to should be within the thick of the motion all event.
The Matildas’ all-time file scorer, Kerr is an apparent title to be angling for if somebody asks you who is likely to be banging within the objectives for Australia over the subsequent month and a bit.
But one punter has extra religion in her than most – dropping $13,000 with one bookmaker on Kerr to be the event’s main goalscorer, at 10-1, whereas outlaying an extra $4,000 to attain 10 or extra through the World Cup.
And the punter would love Kerr to get off to a scorching begin tonight in opposition to Ireland – with one other $1000 guess on the Matildas skipper to bag a hat-trick in opposition to Ireland, at 15-1 with the TAB.
5.25PM: EX-MATILDA PUSHING NZ IN OPENER
20 minutes into the opening match of the World Cup and we’re nonetheless scoreless between New Zealand and Norway.
Despite having the higher of the probabilities up to now, the house facet is but to hassle the scorers. But if they can get their event off on the proper foot they might have the Matildas to thank in some half.
As Adam Peacock writes on this sensational function for CODE Sports, Indiah-Paige Riley – who debuted for Australia simply two years in the past – is main the road for the Football Ferns.
Riley’s first seven years on earth have been spent in New Zealand’s largest metropolis, however soccer wasn’t on her radar.
“I grew up in Auckland, my dad played rugby league but I was more of a rugby union girl,” Riley tells CODE, explaining an early coach was All Black nice Keven Mealamu.
Riley, aged seven, moved to Brisbane together with her mum and 4 siblings and inside 5 years, the short, decisive attacking participant, was representing Australia at under-17 degree.
5.00PM: OPENING CEREMONY STUNS NZ CROWD
The plans for the opening ceremony have been the most effective stored secret of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and it didn’t fail to amaze.
Held in New Zealand – forward of the opening match between the Kiwis and Norway – the plans for the ceremony had been stored below lock and key.
The solely particulars beforehand revealed was that feminine artists Mallrats and BENEE would carry out the event’s official tune Do It Again.
A properly choreographed tribute to the First Nations and Māori individuals began the event- with conventional dancers and singers, all feminine, placing on a spectacular 10-minute present at Eden Park.
Female dancers, representing every of the 32 competing nations then appeared on the pitch able to occasion as the primary leisure carried out Do It Again.
And it wouldn’t be a gap ceremony with out a formidable fireworks show to shut.
4.30PM: FIFA’S NEW SECURITY PLAN, MINUTE’S SILENCE
FIFA have this afternoon confirmed {that a} minute of silence will happen earlier than the opening two video games of the World Cup, between New Zealand and Norway, and Australia and the Republic of Ireland, to honour the victims of the tragic taking pictures in New Zealand earlier right this moment.
The Minister for Sport and Recreation Grant Robertson mentioned a complete safety plan was in place for the event.
“We appreciate the collaboration with the New Zealand authorities from the earliest moment of this tragic incident,” mentioned FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“We have been involved in ongoing communication from the outset, and we have also received the necessary reassurances from Minister for Sport and Recreation Grant Robertson in relation to the safety and security of the participating teams and fans at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.”
4.00PM: ‘FEARING FOR THEIR BODIES’: CAN IRELAND HANDLE MATILDAS?
Experienced midfielder Denise O’Sullivan is match for Ireland’s opening match on the Women’s World Cup in opposition to co-hosts Australia after being harm within the deserted pleasant with Colombia.
O’Sullivan was rushed to hospital final week after a fierce deal with in a closed-doors warm-up match in opposition to the South Americans that was referred to as off after 23 minutes with the Irish gamers “fearing for their bodies”.
There was concern that the 102-cap star had sustained a leg fracture that would jeopardise her event.
But coach Vera Pauw mentioned Wednesday that she had made a exceptional restoration and was match to play in entrance of an estimated 80,000 followers at Stadium Australia in Sydney on the opening day of the World Cup.
“We are very open, we have nothing to hide. Denise is fit, she will play,” Pauw mentioned, including that the 29-year-old had resumed full-contact coaching.
Despite their worries over Colombia’s physicality captain Katie McCabe mentioned they might give pretty much as good as they obtained and have been prepared for comparable remedy from the Sam Kerr-led Australia, one of many World Cup favourites.
“We knew obviously that Colombia were going to be physical but that is going to be the case in every game,” mentioned the long-time Arsenal participant.
“We’re Irish, we don’t shy away from physicality, it’s ingrained in us, the hardworking team we are.
“So yes, we are ready for Australia to be physical tomorrow, we’ll be prepared to match it.”
Ireland are at their first World Cup and Pauw admitted that Australia’s larger expertise might show essential.
But the Dutchwoman, who has beforehand coached the Netherlands, Russia, and South Africa, mentioned Ireland had loads of their very own expertise to hassle the hosts.
“They have huge experience, they have class players, they have immense pace so we know what we are going to face,” she mentioned of the Matildas.
“We are very realistic of our chances here, but we play every game to win and hope we can also show our qualities.” Ireland head into the match having misplaced three of their final 4 video games, twice in opposition to the United States and to France earlier this month.
Their solely victory this 12 months was a slender 3-2 overcome Zambia. But they are going to be buoyed by upsetting the Matildas 3-2 in 2021, the one time the 2 sides have beforehand met.
3.00PM KERR: THIS IS OUR FINAL
Captain Sam Kerr on Wednesday mentioned Australia have been treating their opening sport on the World Cup in opposition to Ireland like a last, vowing to not be overawed by taking part in in entrance of 80,000 followers in Sydney.
The co-hosts have been constant performers on the worldwide stage, qualifying for the Women’s World Cup repeatedly since 1995.
But they’ve by no means progressed previous the quarter-finals and the stress is on, having been billed as among the many favourites.
The in-form Matildas begin their World Cup title cost on Thursday and star Chelsea striker Kerr mentioned: “We are really confident, but for us it’s just about the first game.
“Right now we are playing that game with no other game in mind, so that’s our final at this point.” Australia will likely be taking part in in opposition to the Irish in entrance of a sellout, partisan crowd at Stadium Australia.
Kerr mentioned the crew would feed off the help.
“I think everyone is looking forward to it rather than being nervous about the crowd. Everyone knows they’re on our side,” she mentioned.
“It’s nice when you know they’re going to be cheering you on and not booing you.”
Originally revealed as Matildas v Ireland dwell rating: Sam Kerr damage Fifa World Cup 2023 groups, outcomes, New Zealand v Norway
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
