Argentina v Austria: Back more Messi magic in 7/1 Bet Builder

Solid Austria no match for Messi's Argentina

Click here for Argentina v Austria odds
Monday 22 June, 18:00 kick-off
Group J - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Live on BBC One

What a perfect start for defending champions Argentina with a Lionel Messi hat-trick in their opener. Yes, it was Algeria, but it'll give Lionel Scaloni's side a huge boost ahead of this much tougher test against Austria - who were 3-1 winners over Jordan.

So the winner goes through, but they'll both be fine for the knockouts. Argentina are well fancied as 4/71.57 favourites but Austria are a seriously solid side - Ralf Rangnick's men losing just once in 12, winning 10, so 5/16.00 outsiders they may be but they're no mugs.

They do look outgunned in attack though do Austria, so perhaps the 31/104.10 draw is the limit of what they can achieve here, and they'll look to try and make it a low-scoring struggle as most of their games against better sides tend to be.

Needing a late own goal and an even later penalty to beat Jordan doesn't bode well as Argentina's defence has been excellent, conceding just 10 goals in a dominant qualifying campaign and registering six clean sheets in their last seven. Algeria didn't even get a shot on target.

Rangnick was tinkering with his forward line against Jordan trying to find a solution with livewire Christoph Baumgartner missing the tournament - veteran Mark Arnautovic replaced Sasa Kalajdzic at half-time - and generating just 1.69 xG and four shots on target wasn't great.

That won't cut it here I'm afraid so although it could be a grind for Argentina to break Austria down they should come through - and have few problems at the back.

Get 7/18.00 on Messi goal in Bet Builder treble

We'll all want to back Messi somehow here won't we? Just a couple of days before his 39th birthday he looked as good as ever, this will be tougher naturally but he should still have a big impact on the game.

Messi is 1/12.00 to score anytime which will appeal to many, and will form plenty of Bet Builder legs for sure, while he has h is own 'Featured Players' Bet Builders on the Sportsbook including 6/17.00 on the great man to score first and have an assist.

Messi is also an OddsBoost at 28/129.00 to score another hat-trick!

Austria will key on Messi but he's so good, looks sharp and has quality around him - we'll temper expectations a touch but you fancy him to score here and we'll base a Bet Builder around that.

We'll add Alexis Mac Allister as a value pick for 1+ shot on target at 11/102.11 as he's underrated and overshadowed by the attacking talent in his team. Mac Allister hit the target against Algeria with one of his two shots and with an Austrian defensive show expected he's good at both shooting from distance and making late runs into the box.

Mac Allister is also a decent shout for 2+ fouls at 5/61.84 as this could be a tough battle, but preference here is for Cristian Romero at 5/42.25 - who like Mac Allister gave away two fouls in the last game.

Romero in fact has two fouls in each of his last six competitive internationals and even if Argentina dominate, Austria will offer enough for Romero to end up giving a couple of fouls away.

Notable winners on Betting.Betfair so far at the 2026 World Cup...

- Mark Stinchcombe's stunning 38/139.00 Bet Builder in South Korea v Czechia
- Paul Higham's 9/25.50 Bet Builder in Mexico's MD1 defeat of South Africa
- Paul also tipped 13/53.60 (Canada v Bosnia) & 15/82.88 (Brazil v Morocco) draws
- A 6/17.00 winning ACCA for Mark on Sunday at the World Cup
- Andy Robson's 9/110.00 five-leg ACCA as Germany wallop Curacao
- A 13/53.60 winner for Paul as France beat Senegal with both teams scoring
- Paul's at it again, an 11/43.75 winning Best Bet in Switzerland v Bosnia
- An 11/26.50 winner for Jimmy The Punt as Jonathan David scores 2+ goals
- Paul's 2/13.00 headline tip in Germany v Ivory Coast was a winner

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