Women's World Cup: Vera Pauw says Republic of Ireland have plan to stop Australia star Sam Kerr
Republic of Ireland take on co-hosts Australia in their World Cup opener; the Matildas have won nine out of their last ten games and have Sam Kerr up front as captain; Vera Pauw says she has a plan to deal with Kerr but insists Australis is more than just the Chelsea forward
Wednesday 19 July 2023 11:40, UK
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Facing an in-form Australia with Sam Kerr up front is a daunting task for Women's World Cup debutants Republic of Ireland — but manager Vera Pauw insists her team have a plan to deal with the Chelsea forward.
Thursday's encounter will see the Irish team come up against a Matildas side on a run of nine wins in 10 — including a 2-0 win over England back in April to inflict a first Lionesses defeat under manager Sarina Wiegman.
Kerr found the net in that England game and has 63 goals in 120 caps for Australia — but Pauw was also keen to remind everyone that Australia offer more than just the 29-year-old striker.
Asked how Kerr can be stopped, Paw replied: «Ask Sam Kerr!
»We will play our game and have our game plan and part of it is indeed dealing with Sam but also with many other players.
«Australia is not just Sam Kerr, Australia is a lot of good players and we've watched them, analysed them of course and we've set our game plan.»
Australia are one of the favourites to lift the Women's World Cup on home soil and will be backed by a bumper 75,000 home crowd in the Sydney Olympic Park.
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But Pauw says Ireland have shown they can deal with big crowds and vowed to not let her team
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