Argentina vs Austria - prediction, team news, lineups | World Cup 2026

Lionel Messi volition anticipation to pb Argentina to the knockouts of the 2026 World Cup connected Monday, erstwhile his broadside instrumentality connected Austria astatine Dallas Stadium.

The Argentinians triumphed 3-0 erstwhile they met Algeria connected Wednesday, and they travel into their adjacent lucifer apical of Group J, whereas Austria are 2nd with 3 points having beaten Jordan 3-1 connected June 17.

Match preview

If anyone had doubts astir Argentina's quality to triumph the World Cup again, they were swept speech aft Messi scored a singular hat-trick to seal triumph against Algeria.

The 38-year-old present needs to find the backmost of the nett 1 much clip to interruption Miroslav Klose's grounds for astir goals astatine the World Cup (16), though qualification for the knockouts is acold much important connected Monday.

A triumph volition warrant progression to the circular of 32, though a constituent volition successful each likelihood beryllium capable arsenic La Albiceleste would beryllium definite of a top-three finish.

Should Argentina decorativeness archetypal successful their group, they would instrumentality connected the runner-up of Group H successful the circular of 32, but each 4 of Saudi Arabia, Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde are presently level connected 1 point.

Lionel Scaloni's broadside person astir been cleanable implicit their past 8 games, with the manager's squad winning each of those matches portion lone failing to support a cleanable expanse twice.

They person besides present won six, drawn 1 and mislaid conscionable 1 of their past 8 competitory outings, portion a triumph connected Monday would beryllium their eighth consecutive triumph astatine the World Cup, arsenic galore arsenic they had successful their anterior 14 fixtures astatine the tournament.

Austria near it precocious to get the amended of Jordan, and they successful information needed an ain extremity from Yazan Abu Al-Arab successful the 76th infinitesimal to springiness them a 2-1 lead, before Marko Arnautovic netted a punishment successful the 12th infinitesimal of second-half stoppage time.

Boss Ralf Rangnick will beryllium disappointed that his broadside were truthful unfastened defensively erstwhile Jordan scored their 50th-minute equaliser, with the near broadside of his lineup unusually exposed aft a mediocre effort to property high.

The 67-year-old should inactive instrumentality comfortableness from the information Austria person lone conceded much than erstwhile successful 1 of their past 18 matches, and they person scored astatine slightest 2 goals successful 4 of their six astir caller competitory fixtures.

Das Team are connected the verge of qualifying for the knockouts of a World Cup tourney for the archetypal clip since 1982, and the value of that accomplishment would beryllium made greater considering the 2026 variation is the country's archetypal since 1998.

The lone erstwhile gathering betwixt the 2 sides came successful 1990, erstwhile Austria managed to clasp Argentina to a 1-1 stalemate successful a friendly.

Argentina World Cup form:

Argentina signifier (all competitions):

Austria World Cup form:

Austria signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Argentina's squad enactment volition beryllium wholly focused connected platforming Messi, truthful expect to spot a midfield 4 stationed down him featuring Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez and Thiago Almada.

Gonzalo Montiel could beryllium an enactment to play astatine right-back, but considering helium is simply a uncertainty owed to a hamstring issue, it whitethorn beryllium amended to remainder him successful favour of Nahuel Molina.

Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez started successful cardinal defence against Algeria, and the brace ever connection a bully premix of aggression and progression.

Austria right-back Stefan Posch is simply a large uncertainty owed to a breached jaw, and portion helium does not necessitate surgery, it would beryllium sensible to support him by utilizing Konrad Laimer successful his place.

RB Leipzig teammates Nicolas Seiwald and Xaver Schlager volition apt clasp their spots successful the mediate of the pitch, and the duo whitethorn play down fig 10 Carney Chukwuemeka.

Sasa Kalajdzic led the frontline against Jordan, though helium was brought disconnected for Arnautovic astatine fractional time, truthful helium volition request to amended if helium is to debar a 2nd consecutive substitution.

Argentina imaginable starting lineup:

E Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li Martinez, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Almada; Messi, La Martinez

Austria imaginable starting lineup:

A Schlager; Laimer, Lienhart, Alaba, Mwene; Seiwald, X Schlager; Schmid, Chukwuemeka, Sabitzer; Kalajdzic

We say: Argentina 2-1 Austria

Austria volition astir surely beryllium much hard to interruption down than Algeria, though the genius of Messi whitethorn beryllium capable to get the amended of their defence.

Argentina indispensable marque definite to debar being caught retired by their opponents erstwhile playing retired from the back, and they person to support their talisman, but marque definite to cheque retired the best World Cup betting sites for the latest odds.

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