In the knockout rounds of Group B, the competition is as fierce as war, not only for the final group stage, but also for the summit clash between hosts Australia and Olympic women's soccer gold medalists Canada, which, together with top-ranked Nigeria, will be the three strongest teams competing for the two spots to reach the round of 16.
I am well aware of the frustration felt by the team and coaching staff after Australia's 2-3 defeat against Nigeria, especially at home in front of nearly 50,000 rabid fans. However, I am confident that they will regroup in the spirit of national honor and avoid a premature exit in the group stage.
Sengkar's availability is up in the air, but if she is able to suit up, it will undoubtedly boost Australia's overall strength significantly. Arsenal's Katelyn Forte will have to put in a good performance, while Hayley Russo and Erika Binda will be expected to hold the Canadians at bay on the right side of the field.
The Kangaroos must avoid repeating the same mistakes, especially at the back. In the last game, mistakes by Alana Kennedy and goalkeeper McGuinness Allott allowed Osu Aira to score the winning goal for the African Super Eagles.
Canada didn't get off to a good start in their last game, and ended up only narrowly defeating Ireland 2-1. Canada might not have been able to pull off a late comeback had it not been for Megan Golloni scoring an unassisted goal just before halftime.
For the Maple Leafs to win, Sheffield Liming will need to be more proactive in taking control of the midfield, while the presence of veteran Kirsten Sinjaya, who is also a key player for the team, presents a challenge to the Irish defense.
Sophice Mitter is another player with a lot of experience with both club and national teams, and came on as a substitute in the last game and had a strong performance. I look forward to seeing her play even better in the Canadian midfield tonight against Australia.
