For all the scrutiny surrounding the World Cup’s expanded 48-team format, with the advantage its uneven scheduling may give sides playing later in the final round, Austria and Algeria offered a reminder of the sport’s unpredictability on Saturday.
Tag: Austria World Cup Soccer
As Argentina move into the knockout phase, Scaloni will know the importance of keeping his entire squad match-fit and focussed, lest injuries or suspensions require changes.
Austria and Algeria were the last two teams to advance to the World Cup round of 32 after battling to a 3-3 draw in Kansas City on Saturday in a result that sent Iran out of the tournament.
Substitute Messi, who came on at the hour-mark, fired a low free kick netting in a seventh match in a row at the global finals.
Defending champions Argentina can take a major step towards the knockout stage when they face Austria in their second World Cup Group J match on Monday, after both sides opened their campaigns with convincing victories.