
8 days · 11 summary articles
Lionel Messi’s Argentina face Austria in a high-stakes Group A showdown on Monday evening, with both sides knowing a win could secure top spot in the group and a favourable knockout-stage draw. The 39-year-old Argentine captain, playing his 12th World Cup match, leads a side that has already beaten Canada 3-0 in their opening fixture, while Austria arrive with three points after a 2-1 victory over Hungary on Friday .
Austria’s coach Ralf Rangnick has publicly urged fans to bet on his team, arguing that the underdogs can upset the world champions. “Before the duel with Messi: Rangnick recommends betting on Austria,” Handelsblatt reported on Monday . The Austrian side, unbeaten in their last 11 matches, will line up at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey knowing that a draw would still keep them in contention for first place.
Meanwhile, Uruguay’s campaign hangs by a thread after their 2-2 draw with Cape Verde on Sunday. The South Americans have not won a World Cup match without Luis Suárez on the pitch since 1990, and their next fixture against Spain on Tuesday is now a must-win if they are to avoid elimination . “If this streak doesn’t end against Spain, Bielsa’s team will be out,” the Hungarian outlet 444 warned.
Cape Verde, the tournament’s surprise package, secured a second consecutive draw after holding Uruguay 2-2 in a pulsating encounter. Pico Lopes, the team’s captain, told TheJournal.ie that qualification for the knockout stages is now the target: “We have to make the most of it now” . Rotterdam erupted in celebration as hundreds of fans gathered to watch the match on giant screens, turning the Dutch city into an impromptu party hub .
In Group B, France prepare to face Iraq in Philadelphia, fresh from a 3-0 win over New Zealand that ended a 92-year winless streak at the World Cup . Kylian Mbappé, who turns 27 on Wednesday, joked in a press conference that he will not still be playing at 40: “I won’t be there at 40, you’ll have kicked me out before,” he said .
Spain, meanwhile, rediscovered their rhythm with a 4-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia, inspired by 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, who scored within 10 minutes of kick-off . Egypt, boosted by Mohamed Salah’s third goal of the tournament, lead their group after beating New Zealand 2-1 in a match that saw the Pharaohs record their first-ever World Cup victory .
As the group stage intensifies, the World Cup’s narrative shifts daily. Austria’s gamble against Argentina, Uruguay’s desperation against Spain, and Cape Verde’s fairytale run all underscore a tournament where the unexpected has become the norm.
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