Argentina vs Austria: a test of ambition and Messi's new stage entrance - 22.06.2026
In the second round of Group J at the 2026 World Cup, Argentina faces off against Austria. At first glance, it's a clash between two winners from the opening round, but the gap in expectations and attention between these sides is massive. The reigning world champions arrived at the tournament as one of the main favorites—and so far, they've lived up to that billing in full.
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In the opening match, Argentina confidently dispatched Algeria 3-0. The star of the night was Lionel Messi, who bagged a hat-trick and once again proved that, even at 39, he's a player capable of deciding games almost single-handedly. For fans, it was another chance to savor the legend in action; for opponents, a clear warning that Argentina hasn't come just to defend their title—they're here to fight for the trophy again.
Austria also started their World Cup campaign with a win, defeating Jordan 3-1. The team looked organized, worked hard off the ball, and made the most of their chances. However, the level of opposition in the second round will be a completely different story.
From a tournament perspective, this fixture carries huge weight. The winner will all but guarantee a spot in the knockout stage before the final group game. That's especially true for Argentina, who will face Jordan next and could wrap up qualification ahead of schedule with another victory.
Austria will surely try to play as compact as possible and prevent Argentina from taking quick control of the game. The problem is, this Argentina side is dangerous not only because of Messi. They have plenty of players capable of creating chances out of nothing, and the team is traditionally very comfortable in possession-based attacks.
It will be intriguing to see how high Austria is willing to push up. If the Europeans sit deep around their own box, Argentina will enjoy their usual possession advantage. But if Austria tries to go toe-to-toe in attack, this could turn into one of the most entertaining matches of the second group stage round.
After his hat-trick against Algeria, all eyes are once again on Messi. Fans are expecting the show to continue, while opponents search for ways to stop a man who has been rewriting football history for years.
Prediction: Argentina win.
Probable lineups:
- Argentina: Martínez, Molina, Romero, Martínez, Medina, De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernández, González, Messi, Álvarez.
- Austria: Schlager, Alaba, Danso, Lienhart, Mwene, Schlager, Seiwald, Laimer, Sabitzer, Arnautović, Schmid.
