Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency: Messi was forced to leave the World Cup after testing positive for doping after winning against Austria and Nigeria. After the FIFA ban, Maradona said in a tearful voice, "Me cortaron las piernas." Which means "They cut off my legs." The sentence still returns to the history of La Albiceleste after three decades like an unfinished tragedy. After more than three decades, Lionel Messi's Argentina is taking the field in Dallas tonight at 11 pm. However, this time it is not the Cotton Bowl, but the AT&T Stadium. The second match of the World Cup group stage against Austria has no direct connection to the 1994 doping scandal. Very few players in the current Argentina team saw the light of day during Maradona's tragedy. Only six players in the 26-member squad were born before that incident. However, the fans have not forgotten that sad history. That is why they have composed a new song for the gallery, which is echoing in the background - 'Scalonetta' will take revenge for the 'World Cup' that Maradona took away on Dallas soil. However, it is not the memories of Dallas or the emotions of the fans, but certainly Austria is now in Scaloni's plans.
And at the center of that thought is the team selection. Scaloni has rarely fielded the same eleven in two consecutive matches in his entire coaching career. In his 97 matches, he has kept the eleven from the previous match unchanged only three times. His strategy in the match against Austria is no exception. Argentina started the World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Algeria with a Messi hat-trick.
On the other hand, Austria also defeated Jordan 3-1 and brought 3 points. As a result, this match between the two teams has become a match to determine the top spot in the group. But Scaloni knows that Austria is not the same opponent as Algeria. Assistant coach Pablo Aimar has also warned that Ralf Rangnick's team is physically strong, organized and very good at putting pressure on the opponent. Austria cannot be ignored. Rangnick's team's organization, physical strength and pressing were noticeable against Jordan. In particular, they like to destroy the opponent's build-up. From goalkeeper to defender, everyone is forced to make quick decisions. This is the biggest test for Argentina. The reigning champions are ahead in terms of experience, quality and recent form. The Albiceleste have now won eight matches in a row. In seven of them, they have not conceded a goal. They have scored at least three goals in three of their last four matches. However, Austria's attack has also been quite clinical in the last few matches. While Argentina prefers to control the game through perfect passing and short passes, Austria will want to destroy Argentina's rhythm through physical tackles and constant pressing. However, the Argentine fans have one hope - that the city that once wrote the painful conclusion to Maradona's World Cup chapter, today in Dallas, the city where Lionel Messi's left foot roars with magical rhythm.