Key events
Swot up on Austria before the game with our handy team guide. Led by Ralf Rangnick, the high priest of high pressing himself, they are a super solid outfit, keen to enjoy their first World Cup since 1998 after qualifying for three successive European Championships.
While we’re counting down to kick-off, I will share the official Austria World Cup anthem, which my colleague Daniel Harris shared with me. It’s an absolute bop in fairness.
Team news
Argentina: E.Martínez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernández, Almada; Messi, Lautaro Martínez.
Subs: Musso, Senesi, Tagliafico, Montiel, Paredes, Barco, Álvarez, Lo Celso, Rulli, Palacios, González, Simeone, Paz, Otamendi, Lopez.
Austria: A.Schlager; Posch, Danso, Alaba, Laimer; Seiwald, X.Schlager; Schmid, Sabitzer, Wanner; Gregoritsch.
Subs: Affengruber, Arnautović, Grillitsch, Wiegele, Pentz, Kalajdzic, Lienhart, Mwene, Chukwuemeka, Ljubicic, Wimmer, Prass, Friedl, Svoboda, Schopf.
Austria’s rivalry with Germany is such that they may not be too upset if Messi scores today … as he will surpass Miroslav Klose’s World Cup scoring record. Then-again, there is a big German flavour to this Austrian side with Rangnick in charge and of course many of their players based in the German Bundesliga.
Aside from conceding a sloppy goal to tournament debutants Jordan, Austria were fairly impressive in their first group outing. Defeat today. however, would set up a nervy final game against Algeria, where qualification for the knockout rounds will likely be on the line. The two other Group J teams meet in several hours’ time in San Francisco.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Monday’s first hit of World Cup action. The holders are in Texas to take on Ralf Rangnick’s Austria in a game that will probably decide who tops Group J. All the focus will be on Argentina and Lionel Messi after his brilliant hat-trick in their opener against Algeria last week. Just one goal today will mean he is out on his own as the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer.
It has been a complicated couple of weeks for Messi, whose family confirmed last Thursday that his father Jorge is undergoing medical treatment for an undisclosed illness. An Argentinian TV host resigned after falsely reporting that Jorge, 68, had died. Messi was tearful at times in the opener in Kansas City but he has the chance to make more history in Dallas today.
Austria have a legendary veteran forward of their own in Marko Arnautovic, who finally got on the scoresheet 112 minutes into their opening 3-1 win over Jordan. After coming off the bench at half-time, the 37-year-old had a goal disallowed and caused an own goal before converting a late penalty to seal the points.
Kick-off at Dallas Stadium is noon local time, 6pm BST and 3am AEST. Feel free to get in touch with me via email.
