Lautaro turns Argentina's XI into a different test
Argentina's confirmed lineup against Austria puts Lautaro Martinez beside Messi, keeps Thiago Almada as the release between the lines, and turns Molina's right side into the first pressure test.
The fresh Argentina-Austria news is the confirmed team sheet, not another Messi record countdown. Lionel Scaloni kept the change count low, but the actual XI gives this match a different center of gravity: Lautaro Martinez starts with Messi, Thiago Almada stays close to them, and Austria have answered with Paul Wanner and Michael Gregoritsch rather than saving all their attacking size for later.
FIFA's match centre had the Group J game live in Dallas, while Al Jazeera's live coverage listed the confirmed Argentina XI shortly before kickoff: Emi Martinez; Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Facundo Medina and Nahuel Molina; Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez and Thiago Almada; Lautaro Martinez and Lionel Messi. 1 That is enough to move the watch point away from another probable-XI discussion and toward the first real test of Scaloni's chosen attacking balance.
The confirmed XI narrows the story
| Matchday decision | Confirmed evidence | Why Argentina fans should care |
|---|---|---|
| Molina starts at right back | Ambito reported one Argentina change from the Algeria win: Nahuel Molina in for Gonzalo Montiel. Ambito live blog | This makes the right side the first pressure release valve against Austria's press. Molina has to advance without leaving Romero exposed. |
| Lautaro starts with Messi | Yahoo's Football Italia feed listed Lautaro Martinez leading the line with Messi. Yahoo Sports | Scaloni is asking for penalty-box presence, not just a runner who starts wide and attacks space. |
| Almada stays in the attacking band | Ambito's confirmed XI included Thiago Almada with Messi and Lautaro. Ambito live blog | Almada becomes the hinge: if he receives cleanly, Messi does not have to drop into every first-phase problem. |
| Austria change three | Al Jazeera reported Kevin Danso, Michael Gregoritsch and Paul Wanner replacing Philipp Lienhart, Sasa Kalajdzic and Philipp Mwene. Al Jazeera live blog | Rangnick is not treating this as a pure hold-the-line game. Wanner and Gregoritsch give Austria more ways to attack the second ball. |
The one-change label is technically true, but it undersells the team sheet. Argentina did not just plug Molina into Montiel's place. Scaloni kept the same broad structure while choosing Lautaro as Messi's forward partner and leaving Julian Alvarez on the bench. Yahoo framed the selection the same way: Lautaro leads the line with Messi, while Nico Paz is among the substitutes. 2
That matters because Austria's pressure is designed to turn possession into rushed clearances. Lautaro's job is not only to finish. He has to pin centre-backs, win enough contact to keep attacks alive, and make Messi's first touch less predictable. If he keeps drifting too far from Messi, Argentina can become a team of excellent passers with nobody fixing Austria's back line.
Almada is the pressure-release player
Almada's start is the quiet part of the lineup. Ambito's confirmed Argentina team had Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Almada behind Messi and Lautaro, with Molina the only change from the opening win. 3
That gives Argentina a cleaner route through the middle than a pure wing-speed setup. De Paul can cover Molina's forward runs. Mac Allister and Enzo can keep the first pass moving. Almada then has to receive between Austria's midfield and back line before Sabitzer, Seiwald or Xaver Schlager can collapse on him.
If that triangle works, Messi can choose when to drop. If it fails, Messi will be dragged into midfield to solve the build-up, and Lautaro will spend long stretches waiting for service. That is the real cost of Austria's press.
Austria's XI makes the first half less comfortable
Austria's confirmed side is aggressive enough to make this more than a waiting game. Al Jazeera listed Alexander Schlager in goal; Konrad Laimer, David Alaba, Kevin Danso and Stefan Posch in defence; Xaver Schlager and Nicolas Seiwald in midfield; Marcel Sabitzer, Paul Wanner and Romano Schmid behind Michael Gregoritsch. 1
The two names that change the feel are Wanner and Gregoritsch. Wanner gives Austria another receiver around the pocket. Gregoritsch gives them a central reference point. Al Jazeera also noted that Posch started despite playing with facial protection after a broken jaw. 1 That keeps Laimer available on the right-side channel rather than forcing a simpler reshuffle.
ESPN's pre-match guide had already set the Group J stakes: Argentina beat Algeria 3-0, Austria beat Jordan 3-1, and another Argentina win could seal qualification. 4 The confirmed teams make the path to that win more specific. Argentina need controlled central possessions first, not a race to feed the Messi record story.
Three first-half tells
- Molina's first two forward runs. If De Paul is close enough behind him, Argentina can draw Austria to that side and switch out. If the cover arrives late, Austria will find transition chances into the space Molina leaves.
- Almada's body shape on reception. Receiving half-turned lets him connect Messi and Lautaro quickly. Receiving square to his own goal lets Austria trap him.
- Gregoritsch against Argentina's centre-backs. Austria do not need constant possession if Gregoritsch can turn long balls into second balls for Sabitzer, Wanner and Schmid.
The record chase will get the loudest noise if Messi scores. The team sheet says the more immediate question is simpler: can Lautaro and Almada give Messi enough nearby structure for Argentina to play through Austria rather than around them?
References
- 1Argentina vs Austria LIVE: World Cup 2026
aljazeera.com
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