Australia vs Denmark LIVE: Women’s World Cup team news as Sam Kerr on bench for last-16 clash

Australia will look to advance to the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup as they host Denmark at a sold-out Olympic Stadium in Sydney.

The World Cup co-hosts survived a “do or die” clash with Canada to progress to the knockout stages in style, thrashing the Olympic champions 4-0 to finish top of Group B.

The Matildas could be boosted by the return of star striker and captain Sam Kerr, who missed all three group games due to injury but could be back for the knockout stages.

Denmark are led by Kerr’s former Chelsea team-mate Pernille Harder and reached the last-16 after finishing runner-up to England in Group B.

The early exits of Germany, the USA and Brazil have opened up the World Cup and now Australia and Denmark have an opportunity to make a claim.

Follow live updates from Australia vs Denmark in the Women’s World Cup last-16, below.

Women’s World Cup LIVE: Australia vs Denmark

• Australia face Denmark in Women’s World Cup last-16 clash

• Kick-off is at 11:30am BST at sold-out Sydney Olympic Stadium

• Sam Kerr on bench as Australia name unchanged team

• Australia: Arnold, Carpenter, Hunt, Kennedy, Catley, Raso, Gorry, Cooney-Cross, Foord, Van Egmond, Fowler

• Denmark: Christensen, Sevecke, Ballisager, Boye Sorensen, Veje, Thomsen, Kuhl, Holmgaard, Madsen, Vangsgaard, Mosegaard-Harder.

Women’s World Cup LIVE: Australia vs Denmark

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Sam Kerr is on the sidelines as the players warm-up

Women’s World Cup LIVE: Australia vs Denmark

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Lots of eyes in Sydney are on today’s other last-16 match between England and Nigeria.

It’s currently 0-0 in extra time, but England are down to 10 after Lauren James’ red card.

England vs Nigeria LIVE: Women’s World Cup 2023 score and latest updates

Women’s World Cup LIVE: Australia vs Denmark

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Sam Kerr remains on the bench for Australia! The Matildas are unchanged from the 4-0 win against Canada.

Australia: Arnold, Carpenter, Hunt, Kennedy, Catley, Raso, Gorry, Cooney-Cross, Foord, Van Egmond, Fowler

Subs: Williams, Nevin, Luik, Polkinghorne, Vine, Wheeler, Chidiac, Yallop, Simon, Kerr, Grant, Micah

Denmark: Christensen, Sevecke, Ballisager, Boye Sorensen, Veje, Thomsen, Kuhl, Holmgaard, Madsen, Vangsgaard, Mosegaard-Harder.

Subs: Larsen, Hasbo, Troelsgaard, Snerle, Thrige, Sorensen, Thogersen, Gevitz, Bruun, Jensen, Svava, Bay.

Women’s World Cup LIVE: Australia vs Denmark

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Denmark will make it their mission to ruin Australia’s party and kick-start their own celebrations by knocking the co-hosts out of the Women’s World Cup, but victory will not come easy against one of the favourites, coach Lars Sondergaard said on Sunday.

Speaking before Monday’s last-16 clash at Stadium Australia, Sondergaard said his team can take confidence from a 3-2 victory over the Matildas in 2021, adding that they had learnt a lot about their opponents in a 3-1 defeat last year.

“We’re going to have our own party if we succeed in ruining a party and that part is fine by me. Of course, it’s going to be a difficult game but we see chances,” Sondergaard told a press conference.

“We’re living a dream and we want to continue living it as long as possible, until the final day of the tournament.”

Reuters

Women’s World Cup LIVE: Australia vs Denmark

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Sam Kerr remained on the bench but thankfully for Australia, they did not need her. In a must-win match, the co-hosts did much more to keep their World Cup alive: thrashing the Olympic champions Canada to reach the knockout stages and restoring belief that looked to have been lost in the shock defeat to Nigeria. With it, Group B was flipped on its head: Ireland’s draw with Nigeria means Australia advance as group winners, avoiding a potential clash with England in the last-16.

Kerr could yet return for that, but Australia finally found a way to play without their star striker and captain. It came at the perfect time with the Matildas facing elimination and a World Cup dream that was instead turning into a nightmare. Kerr was back on the bench after missing Australia’s opening two games with a calf injury, but against Canada they were instead lifted by another returning star in Mary Fowler.

How Australia reached the Women’s World Cup last-16

Australia thrash Canada to save Women’s World Cup dream from the jaws of a nightmare

Women’s World Cup LIVE: Australia vs Denmark

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Australia are embracing “do or die” attitude at World Cup, says Caitlin Foord.

“That (Canada) game was do or die for us and this is the exact same,” Foord said. “We’ll go in with the same mindset. We’re here to go all the way and that’s another hurdle tomorrow to get through to stay on the journey that we want to be on.

“We need to bring everything that we brought to the Canada game to put us in the best spot to get the result we need to move forward.”

Women’s World Cup LIVE: Australia vs Denmark

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Australia captain Sam Kerr has returned to training and expects to make her first Women’s World Cup appearance in Monday’s last 16 tie against Denmark, with coach Tony Gustavsson set to make a late call on whether she starts, and how many minutes she can play.

Kerr, Australia’s all-time leading scorer with 63 goals, injured her left calf on the eve of their World Cup opener against Ireland and sat out all three games in the group stage.

She told Australia’s Channel Nine on Saturday that she “will play” against Denmark, and although coach Gustavsson hinted the striker will play a part, he will leave it late to decide how much she will feature at Stadium Australia.

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

“She’s a player we’ll talk about tonight to see how many minutes would be suitable, and looking at 90 minutes and potentially extra time, how to get the best out of Sam Kerr in our game plan tomorrow.”

Women’s World Cup LIVE: Australia vs Denmark

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The co-hosts face Denmark in the last-16 on Monday 7 August, with kick off at 11:30am BST.

It will be shown live in the UK on BBC One, with coverage underway from 11:00am.

Women’s World Cup LIVE: Australia vs Denmark

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Australia will look to advance to the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup as they host Denmark at a sold-out Olympic Stadium in Sydney.

The World Cup co-hosts survived a “do or die” clash with Canada to progress to the knockout stages in style, thrashing the Olympic champions 4-0 to finish top of Group B.

The Matildas could be boosted by the return of star striker and captain Sam Kerr, who missed all three group games due to injury but could be back for the knockout stages.

Denmark are led by Kerr’s former Chelsea team-mate Pernille Harder and reached the last-16 after finishing runner-up to England in Group B.

The early exits of Germany, the USA and Brazil have opened up the World Cup and now Australia and Denmark have an opportunity to make a claim.

Follow live updates from Australia vs Denmark in the Women’s World Cup last-16 in today’s live blog.