Right then, the match report from Nick Ames in Dallas has now landed. So I will thank you all for your many emails and conclude this minute-by-minute.
The Lionel Messi roadshow rolls on, and on, and on. Has there ever been a better player in footballing history? Probably not. Can anyone stop him at this World Cup? Well that remains to be seen. For now, Argentina are two from two. Messi has five goals in two – so it’s been a pretty strong start.
The action barely stops. Our live coverage of France v Iraq has already begun. you can join Tim de Lisle for all the buildup.
Jordan v Algeria later on really gives both teams a chance to make a claim for second spot. Whoever wins it will be level on three points with Austria.
Ralf Rangnick’s team will be assured of second spot, whatever happens, if they beat Algeria in their final group contest.
An email has arrived from an unimpressed Samuel Dobson:
double quotation mark Apart from the England game (that was fun. wasn’t it?!), this is the second successive World Cup in which I’ve found myself lacking the motivation to watch any of the other games. Something about all the overt corruption, blood oil money, peace prizes, etc. this follows that glorious period in my life (ah. student days) where I tuned into every match at Germany 06, South Africa 10, Brazil 14. Messi piqued my interest enough for me to tune into this game. But it has been excruciating for the most part. Dare I risk another match?
England play again tomorrow Samuel, perhaps the Three Lions can roar you awake again!
Messi even had time to fire a late free-kick just wide as he searched for a successive hat-trick. Now that would have been ridiculous stuff.
He could have easily had three today, of course, let’s not forget he missed a penalty early in the piece.
It wasn’t overly pretty at times, but Argentina found a way thanks to their genius forward. It’s been an occasion that will always be remembered as the day Lionel Messi broke Miroslav Klose’s World Cup scoring record –. then added another goal to his tally for good measure. Five for the tournament in two games. Five!
Austria were competitive but unimaginative in attack and easily thwarted in the end.
The win means Argentina will surely go on to top Group J. Austria will need something from their final game against Algeria to be sure of progression to the knockout stages.
You cannot keep a good man down! Argentina have five goals in this World Cup and every one of them has been scored by Lionel Messi.
First Alvarez was denied, then Messi was denied himself. Then he found a way to squeeze it home to seal the three points.
90 mins +4: Sabitzer will throw this late free-kick into the mixer…. Danso’s header puts it into an even more dangerous area, with Wimmer trying to flick it goalwards with his head. That wasn’t far away at all.
90 mins + 2: Maybe it’s simply been a case of Argentina being solid enough in defence to keep out a limited Austrian attack.
Paredes is booked. Can Rangnick’s team conjure something up late on here?
Added time: As Argentina slow the game down. look to keep the ball, the fourth official’s board displays five minutes.
Gonzalez is tripped to win a free-kick for the holders deep into Austrian territory.
89 mins: There’s a ‘he is human after all’ moment from Messi as he hits a stray pass into midfield for Austria to gobble up. break away. Yet again, their progress is halted by a clever Argentinian foul. No momentum.
87 mins: Danso and others put their bodies on the line in a series of vital blocks by Austria. At the other end, they are finally throwing the ball into the box in the general direction of Arnautović.
85 mins: Even the commentators are urging Austria to be a bit more, er, urgent. And Rangnick is introducing the dangerous Carney Chukwuemeka into his attack. Good move, Ralf.
84 mins: There is an argument that Argentina are something of the Atlético Madrid of international football. many of them schooled in the Diego Simeone-inspired dark arts. The difference between them and Atléti is… they have Lionel Messi.
“Austria are so toothless,” writes Mark Horan on email. “And Argentina plays in a way that makes people hate football. All machismo bullsh*t while falling down at every opportunity.”
Tell us what you really think, Mark.
82 mins: Leandro Paredes is on for Argentina as Scaloni beefs up his midfield. with De Paul trudging off behind the net as Austria prepare to take a corner. Medina is taken off too after that booking, replaced by the experienced Nicolás Tagliafico.
81 mins: If Argentina play this like against the really top sides, they won’t win the World Cup.
There’s a prediction for you.
80 mins: Martínez has taken a bit of a bash in the head (emphasis on the word ‘bit’). has stayed down. Arnautović did catch him as he tried to get to Laimer’s ball and the keeper smothered.
78 mins: I know there are a lot of Messi devotees out there,. the neutrals are surely screaming for an Austria goal to spice up the end of this match. At the moment, it doesn’t look overly likely.
77 mins: There’s a bit of a scuffle between Facundo Medina. Konrad Laimer, who both get yellow cards for their trouble. I’m struggling to comprehend that Medina is the first Argentinian player booked in this game…. that i took nearly 77 minutes.
75 mins: What’s the opposite of a classic? Whatever it is, this game fits into that particular category.
It’s taken nearly 73 minutes for Argentina to get a corner in this game. Here is that corner, which Messi swings in … and Nico Gonzalez will be annoyed he hasn’t headed that in.
He met it with a glancing near-post header, but it whizzed just wide of the far post.
71 mins: I thought by the way Austria began this second half. we’d see more impetus from Ralf Rangnick’s team. They’re quite well organised but, to me, are seriously lacking in end product.
We’re back under way.
Thank you to Mark Schmidt. Sandgk in my email inbox, who have clarified that referees can only take away incorrectly given corners, but cannot award a corner that’s initially been given a goal kick. There’s logic for you.
It’s the 69th minute, so it’s time for some hydration, which will take absolutely ages for no reason whatsoever. Boos from the stands.
Ralf Rangnick is rolling the dice now. Wanner, Posch and Alaba go off and Marko Arnautović, Friedl and Prass are thrown on. You’d think Arnautović would fashion himself a chance over the next 23 minutes or so.
67 mins: For what it’s worth I think the ref, Amin Omar, has largely done OK. There have been loads of fouls.
Gregoritsch heads over the bar after good work by Sabitzer down the left.
65 mins: Argentina are absolutely incensed they haven’t been awarded a corner. It did look like Schlager parried away Messi’s shot. I thought VAR was intervening in such matters during this World Cup? Apparently not.
64 mins: Some tigerish defending from Austria’s tough-tackling midfield keeps Messi and co at bay. He is drifting back into the game now, the little fella.
Another big cheer greets the arrival of Julián Alvarez. He and Nico Gonzalez are on, with Lautaro replaced.
This truly is the World Cup of ducks, isn’t it? More of a Dawn the Duck myself (admits it).
61 mins: One underrated aspect of this Argentina side, perhaps, is their defence. They don’t concede many and have been able to hold Austria at arm’s length for much of this contest.
As Argentina counter, Almada lays it off nicely to Enzo Fernández, whose shot is blocked.
59 mins: The next goal determines the outcome of this game, without a doubt (again I am Captain Obvious). If Austria get it, anything could happen. If Messi anyone from Argentina can make it 2-0, it’s game set and match.
57 mins: This could be doing them a disservice – I only saw highlights of Argentina’s game against Algeria, rather than the full thing –. they still seem like a ‘moments’ team, quite reliant on Messi pulling a rabbit from the hat. Very much like they were in 2022.
A huge cheer goes up. Not for Nicolas Otamendi replacing Romero, but for Shakira appearing on screen. Waka waka.
Sabitzer forces a decent save from Emi Martínez! That was a strong hit from the former Manchester United loanee,. (I think) Austria’s first effort on target of the game.
55 mins: Yet another Argentina foul, yet another opportunity for the referee to give them a card not taken …. this is a good chance for Austria here. Sabitzer stands over the kick.
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