GOAL! Argentina 1-0 Austria (Messi, 38)
There was nothing scruffy about that one! A beautiful setup and a clinical finish by Lionel Messi.
He is now the men’s World Cup’s all-time record goalscorer. What a moment!
Lionel Messi scores their first goal past Austria’s Alexander Schlager. Photograph: Hannah McKay/ReutersShare
Updated at 14.00 EDT
Key events
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’) and 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, but 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 and 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… and 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.
Lionel Messi takes a corner kick. Photograph: Maja Hitij/FIFA/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 14.49 EDT
71 mins: I thought by the way Austria began this second half that 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 and 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 – but 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, and (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 … but this is a good chance for Austria here. Sabitzer stands over the kick.
53 mins: After Messi’s chipped free-kick is scrambled clear by the Austrian defence, Steve chips into the debate re stutter run-ups for penalties:
double quotation markSaw the question – players are statistically far more likely to score a penalty if they blast it down the middle than try and position it. It’s not even close – wanging it straight at the middle of the goal is the way to go by some distance, but few do because if you’re going to miss you want to miss at least looking like you’ve applied some craft and skill, as fans are more forgiving of that. I reckon stuttering is the same?
51 mins: Messi is played clean through and, shockingly, takes a couple of heavy touches which forces him wide. He was offside – by quite a distance, actually – in any case.
50 mins: Romero continues and Argentina seek to get a grip of this second period. Their passing pace is sedate for 90% of the time. Alaba nods away De Paul’s lofted cutback.
49 mins: An even bigger roar – maybe a roar of discontent – goes up as Xaver Schlager trips up Messi. How dare you foul the great man?
Cristian Romero is now down and looking rather disconsolate as he clutches his knee. The Tottenham defender has not been without his injury troubles in recent years.
48 mins: Emi Martínez hasn’t had to do much so far but a solid catch from the Aston Villa goalkeeper gets a big cheer from the Argentina fans.
47 mins: There’s a real hustle and bustle about Austria at the start of the second half with Schmid displaying some tidy feet and Wanner popping up in the pocket. Just a bit more composure needed with the passing.
Second half: Here we go again. More Messi magic in the next 45 minutes or an Austrian comeback to chuck a cat into the proverbial pigeons?
A little Barney Ronay plug for you as we prepare for the second half to get under way in Dallas.
Just to mark your card for the rest of this World Cup, here is the current all-time scoring list as it now stands:
Updated at 14.16 EDT
Why do players stutter in their penalty run-ups? After Harry Kane’s miss versus Croatia (which was scored on the second attempt, of course, sans stutter) and Ebere Eze in the Champions League final, it’s definitely a question worth asking.
double quotation markHi Dominic. This is Prajwal and I am mailing you from New York. Why do players still stutter in the run-up to a penalty? I think the stats back me up here – stuttering is never good for the penalty taker – even Messi has trouble getting it right. James Beattie would have put that away.
So James Beattie > Lionel Messi, is what Prajwal is basically saying.
An email from Harry Desmond wins the ‘pun of the day’ award of the day. Give yourself a pat on the back.
double quotation markA lot of the Uzbek players have “-bek” in their name; if Austria played them would it be Posch vs Beks?
ShareHalf-time: Argentina 1-0 Austria
It’s the Lionel Messi show. From a completely hopeless penalty scuffed well wide, to a beautifully taken goal to break the World Cup scoring record and give his team a precious lead. Argentina are in pole position to top Group J as it stands.
Updated at 13.56 EDT
45 mins + 6: The half is ending amid a wall of Argentinian noise. There are some very happy faces in blue and white shirts in Dallas.
Louise has emailed in: “Getting really sick of these referees not giving cards to Argentina. Clear fouls. Even the VAR does nothing. Its 2022 all over again.”
Well indeed there was Messi’s challenge in the Algeria game. There’s been nothing red-worthy in this one so far but numerous potential yellows have been overlooked by the officials.
45 mins + 5: Sabitzer hits a lovely diagonal from left to right but it remains a statement of fact that Austria cannot penetrate the Argentina back line. Looks like Lionel Scaloni’s men are happy to play this out to half-time and rest on their 1-0 lead.
45 mins + 2: The link-up between Laimer and Sabitzer on the left remains Austria’s most potent partnership. The issue for Ralf Rangnick’s side at the moment is getting the ball into the box and into a shooting position, which they’re not doing often enough.
Their midfield and pressing is earning them turnovers and territory. But they need a tad more than that.
We’ll have a whopping seven added minutes at the end of the first half. Austria are looking to increase the tempo.
43 mins: Danso is a bit late on Messi. Austria are losing their discipline somewhat here.
Mac Allister than bundles over Schmid, mind you. Stop-start doesn’t quite cover it.
42 mins: I know Argentina missed a penalty as well as scoring but I honestly think 1-0 is a bit harsh on Austria. The holders haven’t created very much.
41 mins: Posch is the first player to be booked and I’m surprised it’s taken so long. Equally surprised that an Argentina player hasn’t been booked with the amount of fouls they’ve committed.
Almada set it up really nicely, laying off to the left and then stepping over the cutback from Medina. The finish was vintage Messi, tucked away with his left foot, minimum of fuss.
The missed penalty is already ancient history. Messi sit top of the World Cup scoring tree.
ShareGOAL! Argentina 1-0 Austria (Messi, 38)
There was nothing scruffy about that one! A beautiful setup and a clinical finish by Lionel Messi.
He is now the men’s World Cup’s all-time record goalscorer. What a moment!
Lionel Messi scores their first goal past Austria’s Alexander Schlager. Photograph: Hannah McKay/ReutersShare
Updated at 14.00 EDT
38 mins: Replays show that Romero careless caught Gregoritsch with a stray elbow on the back of his head. Not like him, is it?
It’s still a bit of a scruffy game in Dallas.
37 mins: Lautaro and Fernández nearly link up after a fine through-ball found the Inter captain. Austria are so good at getting bodies back, though.
35 mins: Enzo Fernández, of course, is also dictating the tempo but it’s a bit one-paced at the moment. Other than Lautaro up top, there isn’t a great deal of pace about this Argentina side. They miss Julian Alvarez.
34 mins: Argentina have finally managed to find a modicum of control. The likes of De Paul and Mac Allister are getting on the ball.
32 mins: Messi just cushioned a first-time volleyed touch into the path of Almada that nearly brought the opener. How did he even see that pass? Schlager actually reacted to it well, coming off his line to get there first.
On the penalty, David Ward has emailed me just to say “Ronaldo wouldn’t have missed that”.
No, but on current form he would have missed everything else.
29 mins: The Austrian midfield are so compact, so energetic, that Argentina simply cannot play through them. The World Cup holders are reliant on counter-attacks through to Messi and Lautaro – and even they’re few and far between.
27 mins: We’re back under way after three minutes well spent having a sip of water.