Argentina vs Austria Prediction, Player Picks & Analysis | Golden Predictions

Argentina vs Austria

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Lionel Messi

ArgentinaHome

Shot (2+)

7/10

Lionel Messi starts from the right but drifts inside at will, and whenever he spots the space he loads up his left foot. Against Austria, it's only natural to expect him to go for goal more than once.

Shot on Target (1+)

6/10

When Messi sets the ball for one of his curling efforts, the trajectory tends to find the target. Even on a controlled evening, an accurate strike on goal from him is almost a given.

Goal Scorer

4/10

Messi remains Argentina's reference point in front of goal, able to settle a match with a single piece of play. If the right ball reaches him, leaving his name on the scoresheet is entirely possible.

Notes are written in the team's original language. If you use the translation feature, we recommend verifying the information independently.

Nicolas Tagliafico

ArgentinaHome

Tackle (1+)

7/10

Nicolas Tagliafico pushes up the left but is above all a tackling full-back, always ready to track back and shut things down. Against the Austrian wingers, at least one duel won with a tackle is likely.

Notes are written in the team's original language. If you use the translation feature, we recommend verifying the information independently.

Cristian Gabriel Romero

ArgentinaHome

Foul Committed (1+)

6/10

Cristian Romero defends on the front foot, steps out on the carrier and reads the play aggressively. That biting style of marking exposes him to committing at least one foul against the Austrian forwards.

Notes are written in the team's original language. If you use the translation feature, we recommend verifying the information independently.

Julian Alvarez

ArgentinaHome

Shot (2+)

5/10

Julian Alvarez never stays still: he drifts wide, slips into the box and looks to shoot from different angles. With Argentina running the game, getting to a shot a couple of times suits him well.

Notes are written in the team's original language. If you use the translation feature, we recommend verifying the information independently.

Lautaro Martinez

ArgentinaHome

Foul Committed (1+)

5/10

Lautaro Martinez isn't only about goals: he presses the centre-backs, fights for every ball and sometimes overdoes the contact. That generous work easily leads him into at least one foul during the game.

Notes are written in the team's original language. If you use the translation feature, we recommend verifying the information independently.

Xaver Schlager

AustriaAway

Tackle (1+)

7/10

Xaver Schlager is the beating heart of Austria's midfield, all running and recoveries on whoever has the ball. Against an Argentina side that wants possession, his sliding challenges will be a constant.

Notes are written in the team's original language. If you use the translation feature, we recommend verifying the information independently.

Marko Arnautovic

AustriaAway

Shot (1+)

5/10

Marko Arnautovic is Austria's man up top and never passes up the chance to shoot, even from a standstill. Even on scraps, he's the type to conjure at least one effort across the ninety minutes.

Notes are written in the team's original language. If you use the translation feature, we recommend verifying the information independently.

Phillip Tietz

AustriaAway

Foul Committed (1+)

5/10

Phillip Tietz starts on the right but has to do plenty of chasing when Argentina raise the tempo. In those hurried recovery runs, he often ends up stopping his opponent with a foul.

Notes are written in the team's original language. If you use the translation feature, we recommend verifying the information independently.

Argentina

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Home

Julian Alvarez

Lautaro Martinez

Lionel Messi

LCM

RCM

Nicolas Tagliafico

Cristian Gabriel Romero

RCB

Austria

Hover over a green dot to see notes

Away

Marko Arnautovic

Phillip Tietz

LCM

Xaver Schlager

RCM

LCB

RCB

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Team Notes

Analyst

Jun 22

Argentina vs Austria, the Group J summit clash It is not often that a group's second round is already a showdown, but Group J at the 2026 World Cup works that way: Argentina and Austria both started on maximum points and contest top spot head-on. The world champions demolished Algeria 3-0 with a night to remember from Lionel Messi, whose hat-trick took him to 16 World Cup goals, level with Klose's all-time record. Ralf Rangnick's Austria, for their part, beat Jordan 3-1 with Romano Schmid's fine long-range goal, an own goal and an Arnautović penalty deep in stoppage time. Two sides that each scored three in their openers: the tip under review, a game with at least two goals, is born precisely from that. Two attacks in confidence, two different tempos Argentina showed their usual quality in the final third, with Messi orchestrating and a build-up that creates chances in waves. Austria are no slouches for organisation and intensity: Rangnick's pressing and the directness toward Arnautović made them one of the sturdiest surprises of the first round. Neither, though, is flawless at the back: the Austrians conceded Jordan's first-ever World Cup goal, while Argentina coasted but now face an opponent of a different calibre. Both arrive in good shape, with their attacking leaders fully available; the final lineups are to be confirmed close to kick-off. A meeting with an old-fashioned flavour Argentina and Austria have met very rarely, and almost always in a distant past, with no recent sample to steer the read. More than history, what matters here is form and need: Austria dream of the result that would swing the group their way, Argentina want to lock down top spot. The verdict: a closed game is hard to picture The two-goal line rests on solid ground. On one side Argentina, who with Messi in this form rarely draw a blank; on the other an Austria that has just scored three times and, while respecting the world champions, will not pass up the chance to strike on the counter. When two sides with this attacking potential meet for top spot, the score tends to move. I'd put the chance of at least two goals around 78%. The main risk is a chess match in which Austria sit deep and Argentina manage the lead once they break through; but given the quality on show, a goal-shy game remains the minority scenario.

Notes are written in the team's original language. If you use the translation feature, we recommend verifying the information independently.

Argentina vs Austria

Argentina vs Austria

Team Notes

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