Argentina eyes knockout stage berth against Austria as Messi eyes more records

Argentina, the defending champions, are poised to make significant progress towards the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup when they face Austria in their second Group J match. Both teams enter the game with high confidence, having secured three points in their opening fixtures.

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We watched their game and what Messi did was extraordinary. Starting the tournament with a hat-trick, that's something crazy. Hopefully, he doesn't repeat it against us.

Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, dominated Algeria with a 3-0 victory, thanks to a hat-trick from their captain. This performance not only secured a vital win but also saw Messi equal the all-time World Cup scoring record held by German legend Miroslav Klose. Austria began their campaign with a 3-1 win over Jordan, setting up this encounter as an early decider for the group's top positions.

A victory would place Argentina on the brink of advancing to the round of 32 and potentially secure their status as group winners if Jordan fails to defeat Algeria. However, Austria, under the guidance of Ralf Rangnick, has its own ambitions after an impressive start. Austrian captain David Alaba acknowledged Messi as the primary threat, noting his extraordinary performance in the first match. "We watched their game and what Messi did was extraordinary. Starting the tournament with a hat-trick, that's something crazy. Hopefully, he doesn't repeat it against us," Alaba stated.

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We know their strengths, not just Messi but the whole team. They are very dangerous.

Despite the focus on Messi, Alaba stressed that Austria's strategy would not solely target the star forward, recognizing the quality of the entire Argentine squad. "We know their strengths, not just Messi but the whole team. They are very dangerous," he added. Austria is expected to employ a high-pressing game to disrupt Argentina's rhythm, as the South American giants are considered strong contenders to defend their title. Argentina's assistant coach, Pablo Aimar, views Austria as a significantly different challenge compared to Algeria, describing them as a physically strong team capable of posing a substantial threat.

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Austria is a very difficult team. They have physical strength and can provide a big challenge.