![\"Lionel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1905.jpg\")
Lionel Messi scores their first goal past Austria\u2019s Alexander Schlager. Photograph: Hannah McKay\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\nUpdated at\u00a014.00 EDT<\/p>\n
Key events<\/p>\n
87 mins: Danso and others put their bodies on the line in a series of vital blocks by Austria<\/a>. At the other end, they are finally throwing the ball into the box in the general direction of Arnautovi\u0107.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 85 mins: Even the commentators are urging Austria<\/a> to be a bit more, er, urgent. And Rangnick is introducing the dangerous Carney Chukwuemeka into his attack. Good move, Ralf.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 84 mins: There is an argument that Argentina<\/a> are something of the Atl\u00e9tico Madrid of international football, many of them schooled in the Diego Simeone-inspired dark arts. The difference between them and Atl\u00e9ti is\u2026 they have Lionel Messi.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAustria are so toothless,\u201d writes Mark Horan on email. \u201cAnd Argentina<\/a> plays in a way that makes people hate football. All machismo bullsh*t while falling down at every opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n Tell us what you really think, Mark.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 82 mins: Leandro Paredes is on for Argentina<\/a> 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 Nicol\u00e1s Tagliafico.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 81 mins: If Argentina play this like against the really top sides, they won\u2019t win the World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a prediction for you.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 80 mins: Mart\u00ednez has taken a bit of a bash in the head (emphasis on the word \u2018bit\u2019) and has stayed down. Arnautovi\u0107 did catch him as he tried to get to Laimer\u2019s ball and the keeper smothered.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 78 mins: I know there are a lot of Messi devotees out there, but the neutrals are surely screaming for an Austria<\/a> goal to spice up the end of this match. At the moment, it doesn\u2019t look overly likely.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 77 mins: There\u2019s a bit of a scuffle between Facundo Medina and Konrad Laimer, who both get yellow cards for their trouble. I\u2019m struggling to comprehend that Medina is the first Argentinian player booked in this game\u2026 and that i took nearly 77 minutes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 75 mins: What\u2019s the opposite of a classic? Whatever it is, this game fits into that particular category.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s taken nearly 73 minutes for Argentina<\/a> to get a corner in this game. Here is that corner, which Messi swings in \u2026 and Nico Gonzalez will be annoyed he hasn\u2019t headed that in.<\/p>\n He met it with a glancing near-post header, but it whizzed just wide of the far post.<\/p>\n Lionel Messi takes a corner kick. Photograph: Maja Hitij\/FIFA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.49 EDT<\/p>\n 71 mins: I thought by the way Austria<\/a> began this second half that we\u2019d see more impetus from Ralf Rangnick\u2019s team. They\u2019re quite well organised but, to me, are seriously lacking in end product.<\/p>\n We\u2019re back under way.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019s initially been given a goal kick. There\u2019s logic for you.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s the 69th minute, so it\u2019s time for some hydration, which will take absolutely ages for no reason whatsoever. Boos from the stands.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Ralf Rangnick is rolling the dice now. Wanner, Posch and Alaba go off and Marko Arnautovi\u0107, Friedl and Prass are thrown on. You\u2019d think Arnautovi\u0107 would fashion himself a chance over the next 23 minutes or so.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 67 mins: For what it\u2019s worth I think the ref, Amin Omar, has largely done OK. There have been loads of fouls.<\/p>\n Gregoritsch heads over the bar after good work by Sabitzer down the left.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 65 mins: Argentina are absolutely incensed they haven\u2019t been awarded a corner. It did look like Schlager parried away Messi\u2019s shot. I thought VAR was intervening in such matters during this World Cup<\/a>? Apparently not.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 64 mins: Some tigerish defending from Austria\u2019s tough-tackling midfield keeps Messi and co at bay. He is drifting back into the game now, the little fella.<\/p>\n Another big cheer greets the arrival of Juli\u00e1n Alvarez. He and Nico Gonzalez are on, with Lautaro replaced.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n This truly is the World Cup<\/a> of ducks, isn\u2019t it? More of a Dawn the Duck myself (admits it).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 61 mins: One underrated aspect of this Argentina<\/a> side, perhaps, is their defence. They don\u2019t concede many and have been able to hold Austria at arm\u2019s length for much of this contest.<\/p>\n As Argentina counter, Almada lays it off nicely to Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez, whose shot is blocked.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/a> can make it 2-0, it\u2019s game set and match.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 57 mins: This could be doing them a disservice \u2013 I only saw highlights of Argentina\u2019s game against Algeria, rather than the full thing \u2013 but they still seem like a \u2018moments\u2019 team, quite reliant on Messi pulling a rabbit from the hat. Very much like they were in 2022.<\/p>\n A huge cheer goes up. Not for Nicolas Otamendi replacing Romero, but for Shakira appearing on screen. Waka waka.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Sabitzer forces a decent save from Emi Mart\u00ednez! That was a strong hit from the former Manchester United loanee, and (I think) Austria\u2019s first effort on target of the game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 55 mins: Yet another Argentina<\/a> foul, yet another opportunity for the referee to give them a card not taken \u2026 but this is a good chance for Austria here. Sabitzer stands over the kick.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 53 mins: After Messi\u2019s chipped free-kick is scrambled clear by the Austrian defence, Steve chips into the debate re stutter run-ups for penalties:<\/p>\n double quotation markSaw the question \u2013 players are statistically far more likely to score a penalty if they blast it down the middle than try and position it. It\u2019s not even close \u2013 wanging it straight at the middle of the goal is the way to go by some distance, but few do because if you\u2019re going to miss you want to miss at least looking like you\u2019ve applied some craft and skill, as fans are more forgiving of that. I reckon stuttering is the same?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 51 mins: Messi is played clean through and, shockingly, takes a couple of heavy touches which forces him wide. He was offside \u2013 by quite a distance, actually \u2013 in any case.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 50 mins: Romero continues and Argentina<\/a> seek to get a grip of this second period. Their passing pace is sedate for 90% of the time. Alaba nods away De Paul\u2019s lofted cutback.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 49 mins: An even bigger roar \u2013 maybe a roar of discontent \u2013 goes up as Xaver Schlager trips up Messi. How dare you foul the great man?<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 48 mins: Emi Mart\u00ednez hasn\u2019t had to do much so far but a solid catch from the Aston Villa goalkeeper gets a big cheer from the Argentina<\/a> fans.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 47 mins: There\u2019s a real hustle and bustle about Austria<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A little Barney Ronay plug for you as we prepare for the second half to get under way in Dallas.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Just to mark your card for the rest of this World Cup<\/a>, here is the current all-time scoring list as it now stands:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.16 EDT<\/p>\n Why do players stutter in their penalty run-ups? After Harry Kane\u2019s miss versus Croatia (which was scored on the second attempt, of course, sans stutter) and Ebere Eze in the Champions League final, it\u2019s definitely a question worth asking.<\/p>\n 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 \u2013 stuttering is never good for the penalty taker \u2013 even Messi has trouble getting it right. James Beattie would have put that away.<\/p>\n So James Beattie > Lionel Messi, is what Prajwal is basically saying.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n An email from Harry Desmond wins the \u2018pun of the day\u2019 award of the day. Give yourself a pat on the back.<\/p>\n double quotation markA lot of the Uzbek players have \u201c-bek\u201d in their name; if Austria played them would it be Posch vs Beks?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Half-time: Argentina 1-0 Austria<\/p>\n It\u2019s the Lionel Messi show. From a completely hopeless penalty scuffed well wide, to a beautifully taken goal to break the World Cup<\/a> scoring record and give his team a precious lead. Argentina are in pole position to top Group J as it stands.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.56 EDT<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Louise has emailed in: \u201cGetting really sick of these referees not giving cards to Argentina<\/a>. Clear fouls. Even the VAR does nothing. Its 2022 all over again.\u201d<\/p>\n Well indeed there was Messi\u2019s challenge in the Algeria game. There\u2019s been nothing red-worthy in this one so far but numerous potential yellows have been overlooked by the officials.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/a> back line. Looks like Lionel Scaloni\u2019s men are happy to play this out to half-time and rest on their 1-0 lead.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 mins + 2: The link-up between Laimer and Sabitzer on the left remains Austria\u2019s most potent partnership. The issue for Ralf Rangnick\u2019s side at the moment is getting the ball into the box and into a shooting position, which they\u2019re not doing often enough.<\/p>\n Their midfield and pressing is earning them turnovers and territory. But they need a tad more than that.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019ll have a whopping seven added minutes at the end of the first half. Austria<\/a> are looking to increase the tempo.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 43 mins: Danso is a bit late on Messi. Austria<\/a> are losing their discipline somewhat here.<\/p>\n Mac Allister than bundles over Schmid, mind you. Stop-start doesn\u2019t quite cover it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 42 mins: I know Argentina<\/a> missed a penalty as well as scoring but I honestly think 1-0 is a bit harsh on Austria. The holders haven\u2019t created very much.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 41 mins: Posch is the first player to be booked and I\u2019m surprised it\u2019s taken so long. Equally surprised that an Argentina<\/a> player hasn\u2019t been booked with the amount of fouls they\u2019ve committed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The missed penalty is already ancient history. Messi sit top of the World Cup<\/a> scoring tree.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Argentina 1-0 Austria (Messi, 38)<\/p>\n There was nothing scruffy about that one! A beautiful setup and a clinical finish by Lionel Messi.<\/p>\n He is now the men\u2019s World Cup\u2019s all-time record goalscorer. What a moment!<\/p>\n Lionel Messi scores their first goal past Austria\u2019s Alexander Schlager. Photograph: Hannah McKay\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.00 EDT<\/p>\n 38 mins: Replays show that Romero careless caught Gregoritsch with a stray elbow on the back of his head. Not like him, is it?<\/p>\n It\u2019s still a bit of a scruffy game in Dallas.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 37 mins: Lautaro and Fern\u00e1ndez nearly link up after a fine through-ball found the Inter captain. Austria<\/a> are so good at getting bodies back, though.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 35 mins: Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez, of course, is also dictating the tempo but it\u2019s a bit one-paced at the moment. Other than Lautaro up top, there isn\u2019t a great deal of pace about this Argentina<\/a> side. They miss Julian Alvarez.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 34 mins: Argentina<\/a> have finally managed to find a modicum of control. The likes of De Paul and Mac Allister are getting on the ball.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n On the penalty, David Ward has emailed me just to say \u201cRonaldo wouldn\u2019t have missed that\u201d.<\/p>\n No, but on current form he would have missed everything else.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 29 mins: The Austrian midfield are so compact, so energetic, that Argentina simply cannot play through them. The World Cup<\/a> holders are reliant on counter-attacks through to Messi and Lautaro \u2013 and even they\u2019re few and far between.<\/p>\n