For all its place in the middle of a bloated group stage, the Austria test may prove critical to Argentina's World Cup defence. Messi's storybook entrance to the tournament set a near-impossibly high bar for football romantics. Messi will seek the goal that makes him this competition's leading scorer of all time. Austria may provide a sterner test than Algeria, and progress here may simply be defined by getting the job done.
Argentina would rather not entertain finishing second in Group J, which would probably mean gritting their teeth for a last-32 meeting with Spain. Overcoming a ferocious, flawed Austria is the best way to postpone that level of test. Dallas, famed for its heady barbecue scene is the venue for an asado-loving nation to turn up the heat at AT&T Stadium, the vast home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Dallas and Maradona's legacy
Twenty miles to the east of AT&T Stadium lies the enormous, storied Cotton Bowl. That was where Diego Maradona, about to be thrown out of USA 94 for ephedrine doping, played his final game for Argentina. Dallas is also the city where, after learning his fate at a press conference at the Four Seasons hotel, he famously said:
They cut off my legs
Monday is the 40th anniversary of the "Hand of God" or, for those who prefer it, Maradona's bewitching solo goal against England. Lionel Scaloni recalled watching it at his grandmother's house.
Maybe we will see it everywhere tomorrow and maybe we will cry a little too.
The scene is set for Messi to imbue the date with fresh significance. A new chant has been doing the rounds among Argentina supporters following the team around the US, referring to "the cup that was stolen from the No 10, the one they did not let us lift."
Argentina's brighter path
Argentina can enjoy a far brighter picture than at this point in Qatar, when they needed to smartly repair damage caused by defeat to Saudi Arabia. Back then they gave truth to the adage that a team rarely finishes a tournament as it began. Now they are tasked with resoundingly disproving it. Before the Algeria game, which became etched into the country's folklore by Messi's hat-trick, Scaloni said his side had shed the mochila, the backpack, that burdened them until their night of glory in Lusail. A pressure valve has been released: Argentina and Messi can operate with an inner calm that simply was not present in those attritional early games last time around.
Enzo Fernández, engaging in a considerably lower-octane audience with the media than Maradona had hosted in 1994, said:
It was really tough starting with that defeat but then the rest of the World Cup was amazing. Having started with a win it's very favourable, it helps our confidence.
Scaloni, who has cut a noticeably relaxed figure so far this summer, said the class of 2022 have refused to ease up.
I think we are on good lines. Three-and-a-half years have gone but they haven't let themselves go, they always want to improve. They still have a high level of intensity, there is always room for improvement and they have understood the message really well.
Messi and Argentina are in radiant form. Messi is competing at the World Cup while his father, Jorge, undergoes medical treatment. Scaloni was asked what he would wish for his captain when he turned 39 on Wednesday.
My wish is for him to be happy.
Rangnick's view of Austria's task
What hope, then, for Ralf Rangnick? When asked to provide an assessment of Argentina, he replied:
If you look at the algorithm it probably says we 't win. Let's talk about weaknesses first, because there are none. Nothing that we were able to observe.
Although the sense persisted that he was deliberately playing Austria's chances down, Rangnick was respectful of the reigning champions. Scaloni referred to Austria's intense pressing, which will need to be perfect if Argentina, more rhythmic and possession-based are not to pick holes. Jordan caused Austria intermittent difficulties in San Francisco.
Rangnick also noted Messi's threat:
Obviously they have the greatest player of all time in their team. We need to show the best performance we have made under my tenure.
He said Messi's propensity to lurk, rather than harry, adds to his threat. Perhaps Austria will also have to rely on any Argentinian missteps. There is always the outside chance emotion gets in the way. If the symbolism of Dallas was not enough, the anniversary of Maradona's England goals adds another layer. Messi and Argentina aim to continue bringing the joy.
