Sam Kerr insists her World Cup is NOT over as injured Matildas superstar vows to play in Australia’s final group game against Canada: ‘I’ll be there’

Injured Matildas captain Sam Kerr insists her Women’s World Cup is not over as her teammates hope the superstar striker will return to the field in the later stages of the tournament.

Kerr was a shock after Australia’s first 1-0 win over Ireland on Thursday, with a calf injury sustained in training the previous day that will also rule her out of next Thursday’s clash with Nigeria in Brisbane.

Australia’s final and toughest match in Group B against Olympic champions Canada at Melbourne’s AAMI Park takes place just four days later.

The tight turnaround and notoriously unpredictable and slow-healing nature of calf injuries have the nation holding its breath.

The fear is that the injury could undermine Kerr’s campaign altogether.

On arrival in Brisbane on Friday, Kerr was asked if her World Cup was over.

“Certainly not,” she told Channel 10.

Kerr was then asked if she would be seen at the Canada game.

“Sure, I’ll be there,” she said.

Whether that will be in a playing capacity remains unclear.

If Australia make it to the round of 16, they would have a break until August 7, a much more favorable time frame than in the last group stage match – giving Kerr more than two and a half weeks to recover.

Perhaps helping things is that Nigeria and Canada drew 0-0 on Friday, putting Australia at the top of Group B by three points.

A victory over Nigeria without Kerr next Thursday would seal a knockout spot before playing Canada, potentially allowing the skipper to delay her return to the round of 16.

Teammate Ellie Carpenter’s comments on Friday indicated that the timeline, or perhaps even a later return, was more likely.

“It was heartbreaking for Sam, and I think for us too,” Carpenter said in a video interview with Football Australia.

Kerr will miss the first two games of the World Cup in Australia due to a calf problem

But the Matildas superstar has insisted she will be back for the group stage match against Canada

“But we know she was with us for the whole 90 minutes and we played for her, won for her and we know she will be back with us soon.

‘We are all there for her as she is always there for us in (difficult) times.

“This is the most important moment. We will all gather around her and we know she will be happy to come and help us in the later stages.’

The prospect of the Matildas being without Kerr for the entire tournament, which would put a heavy burden on Caitlin Foord and Mary Fowler on offense, isn’t just coach Tony Gustavsson’s worst nightmare.

It would also be a marketing disaster for FIFA, with the 29-year-old superstar the face of the World Cup.

Vice-captain Steph Catley stepped up on Thursday to take the armband and fill the void, including scoring the match-winning penalty – normally Kerr’s role.

“Sam is still here — she still influences the team,” Catley said.

She’s in every meeting. She’s there at halftime talking to everyone, she does the pre-game talk and she’s still with us.

“We will do everything we can to get as far as possible and hopefully we will see Sam Kerr later.”