Argentina vs Austria Match Preview
Defending champions Argentina will look to confirm their qualification for the knockout stages of the tournament with victory against Austria on Monday afternoon. Austria themselves, can confirm qualification with victory after an opening day win over Jordan.
Coming into the tournament, there was doubts over whether Argentina would have what it takes to defend their status as world champions. Now, some of that doubt will have been lifted after a 3-0 victory in their group opener against African nation Algeria. Now, Algeria may not be the most stern opponent, Austria will no doubt provide stiffer opposition, but the manner of victory speaks volumes in a tournament where some of the big nations have struggled so far. To make the result even sweeter, all three goals came courtesy of a Lionel Messi hat-trick. The 38-year-old is just a single goal away from breaking Miroslav Klose’s all-time record at the World Cup and it would be foolish of anybody to bet against his grabbing that goal.
Messi will look to add to his World Cup tally
Argentina are unbeaten in their last eight matches, conceding in just two of those matches over that span and it is imagined that manager Lionel Scaloni will likely name an unchanged side to take on the Austrian test.
Austria on the other hand, where somewhat laboured in their opening victory against minnows Jordan. The 3-1 victory came courtesy of two goals in the final fifteen minutes and may not paint an accurate image of how the game went for Ralf Rangnicks side. Defensively, Austria will no doubt provide a sterner test, they have only conceded more than once, once in their last eighteen matches, however they were caught wide open at the back for Jordans equalizer. A draw would likely guarantee qualification for both sides, a feat that Austria have not been able to do since they reached the knockout stages in 1982.
The two nations have only met twice over the history of international football. A lacklustre 1-1 draw in 1990 and a dominant Argentine victory in 1980.
Team News
I imagine that Argentina will remain unchanged in their lineup for the challenge of Austria, however there remains a doubt over the fitness of right-back Gonzalo Montiel who is suffering with a hamstring issue. If he is unable to start, he will likely be replaced in the line-up by Nahuel Molina. Experienced Premier League defenders Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez will make-up the middle of the backline, whilst in midfield another two Premier League stars will be on show in Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister
For Austria, Konrad Laimer is likely to debutise at right-back after the injury to Stefan Posch and there is a good chance that former Stoke City forward Marko Arnautovic replaces Sasa Kalajdzic in leading the line, after the latter seemed to struggle against Jordan before being replaced by the former.
Former Stoke City forward will look to make his mark again
Predicted Line-Ups
Argentina: E. Martinez, N. Molina, C. Romero, L. Martinez, F. Medina, R. de Paul, A. Mac Allister, E. Fernandez, N. Gonzalez, L.Messi, J. Alvarez
Austria: A. Schlager, K. Laimer, P. Lienhart, D. Alaba, P. Mwene, N. Seiwald, X. Schlager, R. Schmid, C. Chukwuemeka, M. Sabitzer, M. Arnautovic
Prediction
Austria will no doubt provide a more stern test for Messi and his Argentine contingent, however, I expect the quality to shine through and the defending champions to be victorious in a tight affair and confirm their passage to the knockout stages.
Argentina 2-0 Austria.