Australia

The Japanese Football Association announced on Monday that Japan is withdrawing its bid to host the 2023 Women's World Cup, just days before football's world governing body holds a vote to determine the successful candidate.

And then there were three. On Monday, Brazil withdrew its candidacy to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup, leaving Colombia, Japan and a joint bid from Australia and New Zealand as the remaining contenders before the final FIFA Council vote on June 25.

On this day 10 years ago — May 21, 2010 to be exact — Sam Kerr made her mark for the Matildas. 

Australia was playing in the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup final against North Korea where she scored her first international goal at the age of 16. 

SYDNEY — Matildas striker Sam Kerr says the COVID-19 crisis has wreaked havoc in the medium-term career planning for Australia's top women footballers, leaving them with a major tournament to play every year until 2024.

Kerr and her team mates would have been looking forward to a long break in the middle of next year but that slot will now be occupied by the Tokyo Olympics, postponed by a year because of the pandemic.

"This has put a real spanner in the works," Kerr told Fox Sports TV from lockdown in London, where she plays for Chelsea.

Australia is through to the Round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup as runner-up in Group C after dispatching a spirited Jamaica side 4-1 in Grenoble. All four goals were scored by Sam Kerr, who pulled level with the USWNT’s Alex Morgan in the race for the Golden Boot on five goals. The message to the critics rings louder than ever. 

Jamaica arrived at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup as heroes.

Brazil had the flair, the nutmegs and the make-a-defender-fall-on-her-ass moves against Australia. 

The Matildas got the 3-2 win. 

The Seleçao took a two-goal lead in the first half before Australia stormed back in impressive fashion, scoring three unanswered goals to hand Brazil its first group-stage loss at a Women’s World Cup since 1995. 

Australia, the dark horse candidate of many at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, suffered a shock defeat to Italy, making its first finals appearance since 1999, to begin Group C play in France. Australian captain Sam Kerr gave her side an early lead by following up her own saved penalty, but Italy’s Barbara Bonansea scored twice in the second half — including the winner five minutes into stoppage time — to give the Azzurre a dream start.