Ireland will come away from their World Cup opener against Australia knowing that it was somewhat of an opportunity missed.
The came into the game as sizeable underdogs, with the Aussies having home advantage and a more talented squad on their side. Most supporters would have accepted a good performance from the team regardless of the result.
However, the game itself played out in a manner in which Ireland could have come away with at least a point. The only difference between the sides was a careless penalty conceded early in the second half, with Vera Pauw's side playing well and pushing hard for an equaliser in the final 20 minutes or so.
Unfortunately it didn't come.
This opportunity was even bigger when you consider that Australia were missing their best player and captain in Sam Kerr, who was unexpectedly ruled out due to injury just before the game.
As it turns out, this was something the host nation had been planning in the 24 hours or so prior.
Australia coach says they pulled Ireland trick over Kerr fitness
There had been no indication that Sam Kerr would not have been available for the game prior to this point. In fact, she faced the media yesterday and spoke of how much she was looking forward to playing in the fixture.
As it turns out, this had all been part of Australia's plan.
Speaking after the game, their head coach Tony Gustavsson admitted that they had attempted to deceive Ireland by not being open about Kerr's fitness status.
Q: You knew yesterday Sam Kerr was not ok? A: 𝐘𝐞𝐩
Q: Both of you had a poker face about that? A: 𝐘𝐞𝐩
Ice cold from the Matildas boss here 😅
Tony Gustavsson explains Sam Kerr's big absence tonight 👇#OptusSport #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/KvCOHWVwj5— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) July 20, 2023
I hope you respect and understand the reason when I sat here yesterday why I couldn't speak openly about it. I hope there's an understanding of that.
At that time we didn't know 100 per cent what it was. We were waiting for a scan, so we had a meeting at 9.30 last night and that's where I got the exact news of what it was.
Sam was a massive part of Ireland's game plan as you understand, we didn't want to give that away in advance. Once we came to the stadium, we didn't play any type of mind game and were honest with the team sheet.
She wasn't in the starting lineup and we went out with the news that she was injured and couldn't play. We wanted to wait until the last second until we came to the stadium so as not to give away too much in tournament football.
I ask for some understanding with that. I hope that's okay.
Cheeky.
While Ireland probably would have preferred to know about Kerr's fitness issues, you can understand Australia's approach here. They did what was best for their approach to the game and you would imagine that Vera Pauw's would probably do the same had they found themselves in that situation.
For the sake of the tournament as a spectacle, you would hope to see Kerr return to fitness as quickly as possible. It wouldn't hurt Ireland chances of reaching the knockout rounds if she could bag a hatful of goals at some point in the group stage.
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