Kalajdzic turns Molina's start into an Austria test
Montiel's confirmed Austria absence makes Nahuel Molina the likely right-back, but Sasa Kalajdzic gives the change a sharper meaning. This piece explains how Argentina can manage Austria's height, high press and Group J stakes without turning the team sheet into another Messi-record story.
Montiel's right hamstring has turned Argentina's Austria preview into a clearer selection story. The sharper football problem, though, is what that forced change does against Sasa Kalajdzic, Austria's two-meter center-forward, and a team expected to press high. TyC reported Saturday that Montiel is out for Monday and Nahuel Molina is in line to start; the same outlet framed Kalajdzic as Austria's obvious aerial mismatch. 12
That makes this more than another probable-XI update. Molina changes the right side, but Kalajdzic changes the type of defending Argentina may have to do: cleaner pressure on the crosser, better protection of Lisandro Martinez in the box, and fewer cheap fouls around the area.
The update that actually changed the preview
| Saturday signal | Practical read for Scaloni |
|---|---|
| Montiel has a small right hamstring injury and will miss Austria; TyC reports Molina would replace him. 3 | The right-back debate has moved from preference to availability. Molina no longer looks like a rotation idea; he looks like the default. |
| TyC says Almada could give way to Nicolas Gonzalez because Austria press high and may leave space. 1 | The wide/inside-left choice is tied to transition space, not just whether Almada did enough against Algeria. |
| Julian Alvarez has a chance to take Lautaro Martinez's place after responding well physically in the opener. 1 | Scaloni can add more pressing and depth without changing Messi's central role. |
| Leandro Paredes and Nicolas Tagliafico could get their first minutes of the tournament if their progress continues. 1 | The bench may be healthier, but both still read as managed-minute options rather than automatic starters. |
The difference from the last 24 hours is certainty. Friday's language still left room for Montiel to be managed through the week. Saturday's TyC report says tests showed a light injury in the right hamstring, that he will miss Austria, and that the staff is pointing toward a return window for Jordan. 3
Why Kalajdzic is the opponent detail that matters
TyC's Kalajdzic note is useful because it points to a concrete matchup rather than a generic "Austria will be physical" line. Kalajdzic is 28, plays for LASK, is listed at two meters, and started against Jordan before Marko Arnautovic replaced him at halftime and later scored from the spot. TyC also credited him with six goals in 23 club matches this season, including two headers, and four goals in 20 Austria appearances. 2
The numbers are not terrifying on their own. The shape is. Argentina's likely center-back pair, Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez, are not built the same way: TyC lists Romero at 1.85m and Lisandro at 1.75m while pointing out the size gap with Kalajdzic. 2 That does not mean Austria can simply cross and win. It does mean Argentina's first defender against the cross may matter as much as the center-back contest.
That is where Molina enters the story. With Montiel out, Molina has to defend two moments: the normal duel down Argentina's right side and the prevention work before Austria can serve Kalajdzic. If Argentina let Austria settle into repeated wide deliveries, Lisandro's timing and Romero's aggression will be asked to solve a problem the full-backs and midfield should have reduced earlier.
The Weghorst memory is a warning, not a prediction
TyC made the natural comparison to the Netherlands quarterfinal in Qatar, when Wout Weghorst came off the bench, scored twice, and forced extra time before Argentina survived on penalties. 2 The comparison should not be stretched too far. Austria are not the Netherlands, and Kalajdzic's role may depend on whether Ralf Rangnick keeps him ahead of Arnautovic.
Still, that memory explains why this is the right week to talk about rest-defense and set pieces. The danger is not only the first cross. It is the foul after a lost duel, the second ball after a clearance, the hurried pass under pressure, and the defensive line dropping five meters because it no longer trusts the first contact.
Argentina can manage that without overreacting:
- Keep De Paul and Mac Allister close enough to block early service instead of leaving Molina isolated.
- Let Romero attack the first aerial ball when the angle suits him, while Lisandro protects the landing zone rather than chasing a size mismatch.
- Use Julian Alvarez, if selected, to press Austria's buildup so the cross comes from worse body shape and deeper zones.
- Treat Tagliafico and Paredes as control tools if the game state allows, not as proof that the injury list has disappeared.
The group stakes reward a clean, unsentimental selection
Infobae reports that Argentina will train in Kansas, travel to Dallas after Sunday's session, play Austria at 17:00 on Monday, and then return to Kansas City after the match. 4 The same report says Argentina plan a similar short-trip pattern for the final group match against Jordan. 4
That travel plan matters because Group J can open quickly. Infobae's tiebreaker explainer says FIFA's 2026 group-ordering rules prioritize head-to-head results before overall goal difference, and that Argentina, after beating Algeria 3-0 while Austria beat Jordan 3-1, could secure first place by beating Austria if the other group match does not produce an Algeria win. 5
That is the strongest argument for being unsentimental now. If Montiel is out, Molina starts. If Austria's best route is height and pressure, Argentina should pick the players who reduce those situations before they become emergency defending. The Messi-record subplot can wait; the immediate job is to make Austria's obvious plan feel small.
References
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