One of these teams will be shockingly heading home as Canada and Australia meet in a knockout stage decider.
With both nations, each ranked in the upper echelon of global sides worldwide, suffering disappointment at various stages, almost certainly one of them will be eliminated earlier than anticipated.
A draw would be enough to see Canada into the knockout round, as they currently sit on four points in a qualifying position. In all likelihood, Australia need a victory to advance, following their shocking 3-2 defeat to Nigeria in the second round of group action.
There is only one tiny sliver of a possibility that both could make it through, requiring a draw between these two sides plus a Nigeria defeat to Republic of Ireland, which would send the second spot between Nigeria and Australia to tiebreakers. Even then, a number of things could conspire against the co-hosts to see them sent packing.
All eyes in the host nation will be on the fitness of Sam Kerr, who missed the first two matches of the competition with a last-minute injury picked up in training. Her status is considered a game-time decision by head coach Tony Gustavsson, and after they withheld information about her injury until minutes before lineups for the opener were released, it’s hard to imagine she’ll…
