Argentina Beat Austria to Qualify for FIFA World Cup Round of 32
Argentina secured their place in the round of 32 on Monday, beating Austria 2-0 at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in a hard-fought Group J clash. The win, sealed by two goals from captain Lionel Messi, extends the defending champions' unbeaten run in the tournament and confirms their progress to the knockout stages with a match still to spare against Jordan.
Austria, under coach Ralf Rangnick, came into the match with a clear defensive plan and pressed relentlessly for long spells, leaning on a well-organized backline and testing Argentina's patience. Goalkeeper Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez was called upon to make key saves to keep the scoreline level, and Argentina had to absorb sustained pressure before finding their rhythm in the final third. The team also missed an early opportunity to take the lead when a penalty was struck wide, but they stayed composed.
The breakthrough came in the 38th minute, when good link-up play down the right found space behind Austria's defensive line. Messi, given room to operate, finished smoothly to put Argentina ahead, and midfielders worked the ball through pressure before releasing it into dangerous space.
Argentina doubled its lead deep into stoppage time, catching Austria committed forward in search of an equalizer. A swift counterattack ended with the ball falling for Messi to tap home from close range, sealing the win and sparking wild celebrations among the Argentina fans who made up the bulk of the 70,000-strong crowd. Messi, even at almost 39 years old, showed he remains capable of delivering when it matters most, finishing off two well-worked team moves clinically.
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With the win, Argentina top Group J with six points and have already booked their spot in the next round, a notable achievement given how competitive the group has been. Coach Lionel Scaloni's side will now turn their attention to their final group game against Jordan, with qualification already secured and the chance to fine-tune their approach before the knockout rounds begin.
For a team chasing a successful World Cup defense, this kind of gritty, professional win against a well-drilled opponent is exactly the sort of result that builds confidence heading into the business end of the tournament.
