Women’s World Cup – Australia 0-0 Republic of Ireland LIVE: Matildas fail to score in first half without injured Sam Kerr but have the better of play as they try to get tournament off to perfect start

The Matildas kick off their home Women’s World Cup campaign in front of a sold-out crowd at Stadium Australia in Sydney against the Republic of Ireland. Follow along with Daily Mail Australia’s live blog for all the action.

Host commentator

We are back underway in the second half, and the referee probably already needs the pea in her whistle replaced.

Going to be a spicy second half!

We won’t name him, because it isn’t worth the oxygen, but one very prominent rugby league reporter has made the very bizarre decision to insert himself into the World Cup by saying Sam Kerr’s last-minunte withdrawal due to a calf injury was ‘sneaky and deceitful’ in a very prominent publication.

Laughable. Ever watched sport before?   

‘This is such a scummy article’, wrote one fan, with another saying ‘Embarrassing you haven’t thought it tactical not to let opposition know she wasn’t playing. Just embarrassing’.

Seconded.

The man himself, The Notorious, UFC legend Conor McGregor is pretty happy with the first half from the Ireland girls, giving them a big pump up on social media.

No doubt there will be a few whiskeys if they can pull off an upset here!

Come on Ireland!! Great half in the bank! We are open and LIVE at @blackforgeinn supporting our Women in their monumental World Cup quest! Let’s go ladies! 🇮🇪❤️

Injured Matildas legend Elise Kellond-Knight knows a thing or two about heartbreak, after a torn Achilles ruined her World Cup dream.

She is really feel for Aussie skipper Sam Kerr, who has flipped between a disconsolate figure and passionate leader cheering her team on.

‘You can see the disappointment on her face. She is putting on a brave face, you have to as the leader and the captain,’ Kellond-Knight said on the Ch7 broadcast. 

‘The girls will look to you not on the field, but just looking to you for motivation.

‘I can imagine how hard it is for her to deal with this tonight. A huge shock. It happened so recently. Obviously not part of the plan.’

Just want to give her a giant hug!

Yep – Channel 7 have failed (for many fans) for the umpteenth time to provide a working streaming service for one of the country’s biggest sporting games.

Honestly.

Many fans claimed they were unable to watch the game as a result of issues on Seven’s streaming platform, 7Plus.

We have personally felt this pain during the live blog for the AFL grand final, so we’re with you Aussies. It SUCKS.

Phew, what a half of football.

Australia have had control of the ball for 46% of the game, with Ireland controlling it just 29% of the time – the rest has been brutally contested.

Matildas looked a bit nervy with only one shot on goal on target out of five, while Ireland stood strong despite being peppered with wave after wave of Aussie attacks.

Both teams can take positives away from the encounter, but Tony Gustavsson will want Australia to take a breath and tidy up those first touches. 

Aussie skipper Sam Kerr is highly emotional as she watches on from the bench.

Undoubtedly the heart and soul of the Matildas, onlookers said ‘she was in tears as the team walked out’ onto the pitch, but lauded her energy on the sideline.

‘She is chief cheerleader number one at the end of the bench there,’ said the Ch7 broadcast.

We love you, Sammy!

Hayley Raso is quite likely Australia’s most tough player so to see her go down there after her knee got in an awkward position has your heart in your mouth.

I said earlier that if she stays down more than 10 seconds she’d have to be unconscious she’s that tough, so happy to be proven wrong there.

Anyone else’s smart watches reading over 100 heart rate? No? Just me?

It’s not exactly pretty or technical football but Australia are streaming forward at every occasion and pushing the Irish defence.

Once again, though, the first touch or passing finesse is not quite there – but it’s the final piece of the puzzle. But boy, is it physical.

‘Lovely delivery from Catley. Yet again, unsurprisingly on that wand of a left foot. Some afters happening on the ball between Raso and McCabe further afield. Perhaps this game is just starting to get a bit prickly.‘ legendary commentator David Basheer said on the 7 broadcast.

Is there any better sight for Aussie fans than most iconic bow in world football? I will be deeply envious of the fan that get Hayley Raso’s yellow bow after the game.

@HayleyRaso + FIFA Women’s World Cup + @TheMatildas 🎀

That’s it that’s the tweet. #FIFAWomensWorldCup2023 #Matildas pic.twitter.com/XfKAC1ot8V

A dangerous ball in from Kyra Cooney-Cross for a corner. Australia absolutely peppering the Irish defense here. 

Looking scrappy from Australia early, despite having all of the momentum. The side is surging forward but just lacking the final touch or cross to finish things off.

‘On a few occasions Australia haven’t quite got the dial right and just peering through the defensive line and the weight of the pass is letting them down at the moment,’ A-League icon Grace Gill said.

Matildas off to a fast start here, with speedy winger Cortnee Vine already causing a few headaches for Ireland’s defence.

‘Great first touch by Cortnee Vine. Just couldn’t pick her stride to get the second touch in on it. We know that she has electric pace down that left flank,’ Aussie football legend Grace Gill says on the Ch7 broadcast.

Plenty of physicality early, too.

Here we go folks – what we’ve been dreaming of since Australia were announced as co-hosts for a Women’s World Cup!

She’s a packed house! 

Both sides have observed a minute’s silence after two civilians and the shooter were killed in a shocking incident in Auckland.

Both sides are walking out to the pitch ahead of kick-off, with stand-in skipper Steph Catley leading Australia out, while Katie McCabe is doing the same for Ireland.

Here we gooooooo!

The Matildas are ready to go toe-to-toe with Ireland in the physicality stakes when required in their Women’s World Cup opener.

Ireland’s build-up to the tournament has been overshadowed by an abandoned friendly against Colombia.

The Irish, a physical team in their own right, pulled the pin 23 minutes into the game after a challenge on Denise O’Sullivan resulted in the star midfielder being sent to hospital with a shin injury.

Matildas defenders Clare Hunt and Alanna Kennedy know they aren’t to be taken lightly, though. Read all about it here.

The great Caroline Kennedy, daughter of ex-USA president John ‘JFK’ Kennedy, is cheering on both the US and Aussie women’s team from the embassy in Canberra, where she is America’s ambassador to Australia. She does love a sporting event Down Under, and it’s brilliant to see her getting behind the tournament.

Talk about star power!

⚽️🇦🇺🫶💚💛

The Matildas’ eighth appearance at the Women’s World Cup may be their most important yet, with Australia co-hosting the tournament with New Zealand.

It is certainly the most exciting, as the Aussies head into the World Cup with genuine hopes of becoming only the second team after the USA in 1999 to win the trophy on home soil.

Read all about how the Tillys have fared at the world’s biggest sporting tournament for women here.

One of Australia’s greatest female players of all-time, Heather Garriock, was practically choking back tears as she described what a home World Cup meant to her and other Matildas alumni.

‘We have over 150 alumni and every player who has pulled on a Matildas jersey will be here, whether they are here in spirit or watching it,’ she said on the Ch7 broadcast.

‘I never thought this would happen in my lifetime. It is certainly happening and this game will be  absolutely cracking.

‘I am getting emotional now. There were tears and admiration for the current playing group.

‘All the players blood, sweat and tears that we have put in. We are so proud of this team.

‘Big moments win big games and big occasions win World Cups. This is our moment for Australia. I just cannot wait for this game.’

It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for 23 players who will represent Australia at a home FIFA World Cup – but just who are they, and what makes them tick? 

Here is all you need to know about every Matildas player on and off the field, from the Calvin Klein model to the star who signed with the world’s biggest club and the recipient of a huge Royal honour.

Arsenal star Katie McCabe will lead Ireland out for their first-ever Women’s World Cup game, as the Girls in Green look to upset the apple cart and upset Australia in front of a crowd of almost 80,000 people. 

The ladies are out on the pitch warming up for what will be the biggest game of their lives (so far). 

COYGIG🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

With Aussie fans still reeling from the news Sam Kerr will miss this game with a calf injury, it does mean there is an opportunity to start for another superstar.

With whizz-kid Mary Fowler probably consigned to the bench in favour of speedy winger Cortnee Vine until Kerr’s withdrawal, she will now lead the attack in a traditional no. 10 role – which she will certainly excel at as the best finisher in the Aussie side (yes, including Kerr).

One of the world’s most technically gifted centre backs, Alanna Kennedy, has shaken off injury concerns and will partner emerging talent Clare Hunt, with Australia’s most capped player, Clare Polkinghorne, to warm the bench.

Either way, injured Matildas legend Elise Kellond-Knight, who will commentate through the tournament on Channel 7, isn’t worried in the slightest.  

‘I can guarantee you there are a lot of superstars in this team and I don’t think we need to be worried or concerned at all going into this game,’ the injured Aussie legend said.

‘We’ve got so much depth. If anything, it’s kind of great that we can rest Sam and afford to put her on the sideline, and then look at our other players and create our attacks through those players.’

Here is the Australia starting team for tonight

As I tweeted earlier, no Kerr so Fowler gets the nod https://t.co/Mu2bBfJlFM

Not sure how many people had this on their bingo card, but NEW ZEALAND HAVE WON A WORLD CUP MATCH!

The co-hosts have stunned Norway after Hannah Wilkinson’s nerveless finish, and were clearly the best team throughout after both side’s had a messy start to the match.

It’s been a big day in Auckland after the horror shooting, and boy didn’t they need a bit of unbridled joy in their lives.

HUGE news out of the Aussie camp – superstar skipper Sam Kerr is a late out – and will also likely miss the Matildas’ second match.

Fans will be devastated, but it means young prodigy Mary Fowler can start, and there is plenty of depth in the Aussie side. 

‘Sam Kerr is unavailable tonight after she picked up a calf injury at training … (and) will be unavailable for the next two matches with the Matildas Medical Team to re-assess her following our second group stage match,’ a statement from the team read.

Steph Catley will take the skipper’s armband.

Let me collect my thoughts a minute here, wowee – it’s rocked the Daily Mail office a bit!

SQUAD NOTE: 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.

After a morning of tragedy, the Women’s World Cup went ahead with an opening ceremony built around a theme of unity.

A shooting in downtown Auckland earlier on Thursday, which left three dead, gave pause for thought on the appropriateness of festivities.

There was an uneasiness in a city flicking the switch from horror to revelry so quickly, with FIFA and the New Zealand government opting to go ahead.

And so on the show went, a brief but dazzling display rich with Maori and First Nations traditions and imagery, showcasing both New Zealand and Australian heritage and landscapes.

A giant whai, or stingray, and rainbow serpent covered the pitch, where a Maori call was followed by an Australian First Nations response.

Read more about the ceremony here.

Sydney isn’t just bathed in gold – there is plenty of Irish emerald green about too…and the fans are in FINE voice!

Have a look at all the Irish fans milling around the Gaelic Club in Sydney!

There’s still 90 minutes to go until the Matildas kick off at Stadium Australia and fans, decked out in green and gold, are already streaming into the ground for what will be a record-breaking crowd.

Train platforms are packed (and not just because of the regular train issues in Sydney – and the fact organisers only just managed to put signage up) with fans, the trains themselves have the most joyous singing and drumming you could imagine.

We’ve never seen anything like it in Australia and this is only the beginning.

So. Much. Joy! 

I am gonna cry https://t.co/xZePNvV4lp

Sydney Trains only now putting up signs at Central directing passengers to the Olympic Park platforms…good effort

So. Much. Joy. 💛💚
Let’s go #Matildas https://t.co/PiQbNgU50Y

The Stadium Australia pitch (don’t you dare call it Accor Stadium, FIFA won’t be happy!) looks in the best nick it has been in for many years, despite the State of Origin blockbuster played on it last week.

It’s been a brilliantly sunny week in Sydney, and that has continued into Thursday evening, with not a breath of wind about, and a relatively pleasant 13 degrees expected throughout the match.

Hello and welcome to Daily Mail Australia’s live blog of the (as yet) biggest night in the history of the Women’s World Cup!

As co-hosts New Zealand threaten a huge upset to open the tournament against Norway in Auckland, the Matildas are preparing to waltz (pun intended) into their home World Cup in front of a sold-out and record-breaking crowd against the Republic of Ireland.

So can Sam Kerr and co. get their fairytale off to the perfect start at Sydney’s Olympic Park?

We’re about to find out!

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