Prepare for the match with our in-depth guide on Austria, who are led by Ralf Rangnick, a maestro of high pressing. Eager to make an impact, they are looking forward to their first World Cup appearance since 1998 after qualifying for three consecutive European Championships.
As we await the kick-off, I’ll share the official anthem of the Austrian team for the World Cup, which my colleague Daniel Harris kindly provided. It’s a catchy tune, to say the least.
Argentina’s lineup includes: E. Martínez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernández, Almada; Messi, Lautaro Martínez.
Substitutes: Musso, Senesi, Tagliafico, Montiel, Paredes, Barco, Álvarez, Lo Celso, Rulli, Palacios, González, Simeone, Paz, Otamendi, Lopez.
Austria boasts: A. Schlager; Posch, Danso, Alaba, Laimer; Seiwald, X. Schlager; Schmid, Sabitzer, Wanner; Gregoritsch.
Substitutes include: Affengruber, Arnautović, Grillitsch, Wiegele, Pentz, Kalajdzic, Lienhart, Mwene, Chukwuemeka, Ljubicic, Wimmer, Prass, Friedl, Svoboda, Schopf.
Given Austria’s intense rivalry with Germany, they might not mind if Messi scores today, as it would allow him to break Miroslav Klose’s World Cup scoring record. However, with Rangnick at the helm, this Austrian team has a strong German influence, with many players hailing from the Bundesliga.
Welcome to the first match of the week in the World Cup. The reigning champions are set to face Ralf Rangnick’s Austria in a pivotal match that could determine the leader of Group J. Much attention will be on Argentina and Lionel Messi, especially after his remarkable hat-trick in their initial match against Algeria last week. A single goal today would see him become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.
Messi has faced a challenging few weeks; his family confirmed last Thursday that his father, Jorge, is receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness. A television host in Argentina resigned after inaccurately reporting Jorge’s passing. At times, Messi appeared emotional during the opener in Kansas City, but he now has the opportunity to further cement his legacy in Dallas.
Austria features a legendary forward in Marko Arnautović, who finally found the net in their opening 3-1 victory over Jordan, scoring 112 minutes into the match. The 37-year-old, who came off the bench at halftime, had a goal disallowed and was involved in an own goal before successfully converting a late penalty to secure the win.
The match is set to kick off at Dallas Stadium at noon local time, 6 PM BST, and 3 AM AEST. Feel free to reach out to me via email.
