- Sam Kerr picks up injury
- Will miss first two matches
- Huge blow for Australia
WHAT HAPPENED? Tournament co-hosts Australia have confirmed Kerr will miss the first two games of the tournament after picking up a calf problem during training. The Chelsea forward will miss Australia's opener against Ireland on Thursday and their second group game against Nigeria.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: The news is a huge blow to the Matildas as Kerr is a vital player for the national team. The Chelsea forward headed into the tournament after helping the Blues to a league and cup double in 2022-23, and the Matildas will be hoping she can return to fitness in time for their final group game.
WHAT THEY SAID?: "Sam Kerr is unavailable tonight after she picked up a calf injury at training on MD-1. Sam will be unavailable for the next two matches with the Matildas Medical Team to re-assess her following our second group stage match," read a statement from the national team.
AND WHAT'S MORE: Kerr has posted an update on social media and is looking forward to getting back to action.
"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 here to achieve," she wrote on Instagram. "Of course I would have loved to have been out there tonight but I can't wait to be part of this amazing journey which starts now."
IN THREE PHOTOS:
![Sam Kerr Australia Women 2023](https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt2123b9851c979e26/Australia.jpg?format=pjpg&auto=webp&width=3840&quality=60)
![Steph Catley, Sam Kerr and Tony Gustavsson](https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt7339c9446ce69f9d/100723_Steph_Catley_Sam_Kerr_and_Tony_Gustavsson_1920.jpg?format=pjpg&auto=webp&width=3840&quality=60)
![Sam Kerr Chelsea Women 2022-23](https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt1297ebeac4dcfd94/Sam_Kerr_Chelsea_2022-23_(3).jpg?format=pjpg&auto=webp&width=3840&quality=60)
WHAT NEXT? Australia open up their tournament against Ireland and then face Nigeria in a week's time. The Matildas finish off their group campaign against Canada on July 31.