Argentina vs Austria
Argentina continue their World Cup defence on Monday with a mouthwatering clash against Austria as the Group J leaders come face-to-face at the Dallas Arena.
Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina have recently risen to the top of the FIFA rankings, 20 places above their Monday opponents, and they swept Algeria aside in their opener when Lionel Messi scored a stunning hat-trick to take an early lead in the race for the World Cup 2026 Golden Boot.
Meanwhile, since taking over as boss in 2022, Ralf Rangnick has developed Austria into a very competitive side. But they had to work hard to beat Jordan in their opener, as 37-year-old striker Marko Arnautovic made the game safe at 3-1 with a strike 12 minutes into injury time.
Talking Points
Messi the master
The latest World Cup 2026 betting odds have squeezed together the leading group after Argentina’s biggest rivals, Spain, started poorly with a goalless draw against the minnows of Cape Verde. La Albiceleste are now in a group of four, behind La Roja, England, and France as the most likely semi-finalists, with Portugal and Brazil yet to impress.
And Argentina’s talisman looks as good as ever. Now a superstar at Inter Miami, Lionel Messi is surely the greatest of all time, certainly in the eyes of Argentina, Barcelona, and Miami fans, and he was a sure-fire bet to make more than his fair share of World Cup 2026 highlights. But even his biggest supporters would not have predicted he would start the competition with a hat-trick.
His all-round performance against Algeria and his three goals stole the attention away from France talisman Kylian Mbappe, who had earlier scored a brilliant brace to kick off his campaign, and Messi’s hat-trick drew him alongside the highest World Cup goalscorer of all time, Germany’s Miroslav Klose, on 16 goals. He also became the oldest player to score multiple goals at a World Cup finals, beating Cameroon legend Roger Milla, who was also 38 years of age when he burst onto the world scene in 1990.
With 120 goals in 200 internationals, Messi is a phenomenon, and Argentina will never replace him, but they do have an exciting array of stars in the wings, and Como’s 21-year-old attacking midfielder Nico Paz was the man to replace Messi on 80 minutes against Algeria. Paz, a graduate of the Real Madrid academy, has flair and confidence in spades, and I think we’ll see a lot more of him in the coming years.
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister will have a big job to do on Monday against a well-organised Austria side. He will try to ensure Rangnick’s team have no success on turnovers while supporting Argentina’s creative players to exploit any gaps in the Europeans’ defence.
Austria will be prepared to sit deeper against La Albiceleste
After working hard to beat Jordan in their opener, Austria know they face a much bigger task on Monday, but they may be more comfortable without the ball. Against the World Cup newcomers, Austria had over 63-per cent possession but shared the shot counts at 11 each and four each on target.
Against La Albiceleste, Rangnick’s side will have their backs to the wall for longer periods and will hope to break quickly when they get the chance. Attacking midfielder Marcel Sabitzer, now at Borussia Dortmund, is ready to make his 100th appearance for his country and will hope to add to his 26 goals.
Meanwhile, RB Leipzig’s Nicolas Seiwald is prepared to duel with Mac Allister for midfield supremacy. The 25-year-old central midfielder is good at coordinating the press, breaking up play, and distributing defence-splitting passes.
History
Argentina are World Cup royalty as reigning champions and three-time winners, previously in 1978 and 1986, and in their 19th appearance the Albiceleste are one of my two favourites, alongside Spain, to pick up the 2026 crown and make it four.
Austria are at the World Cup finals for the eighth time but are yet to beat their best effort, a semi-final place in 1954, and this is the first time they have qualified since.
These two nations have met each other three times before. But many years ago, the last occasion being a 1-1 draw in 1990, with a win for each side in the other two encounters.
In terms of recent form, both nations have won their last four games, with Argentina scoring 13 goals and conceding none, while Austria have scored 10 and conceded two.
Betting Tip
Argentina are at SBOTOP odds of 1.59 to make it two wins from two, with the draw at 3.83 and an Austrian win at 5.80. I’m backing La Albiceleste to do the business with a correct score of 2-0 to Argentina at 7.25 as my long shot alternative.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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