Dallas, 23 June (H.S.):

Argentina lived up to the expectations of their supporters by defeating Austria 2-0 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday (Indian time), securing their place in the knockout stage. Captain Lionel Messi scored both goals to guide the reigning champions to victory and once again underlined his importance on football's biggest stage.

Even before kickoff, the city of Dallas had turned into a sea of Argentine colours. Thousands of supporters participated in the traditional banderazo celebration, decorating the city in the nation's iconic blue and white. On match day, the stadium was packed with passionate Argentina fans, creating an electrifying atmosphere.

Argentina were handed a golden opportunity early in the match when they were awarded a penalty following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review. However, Messi failed to convert the spot-kick, sending his effort wide. It was his first missed penalty for Argentina since his miss against Poland at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Austria responded positively and enjoyed a spell of pressure, keeping the contest evenly balanced. However, Argentina broke the deadlock in the 39th minute. Thiago Almada intelligently allowed Facundo Medina's pass to run through to Messi, who calmly slotted the ball into the net to give his side a 1-0 lead.

Austria attempted to mount a comeback after the break and created a dangerous chance, but goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez produced an excellent save to preserve Argentina's advantage.

Argentina had several opportunities to extend their lead but were unable to find a second goal until stoppage time. Austria's defence failed to clear the ball inside the penalty area, allowing Messi to capitalise on the loose ball and finish from close range to seal a comprehensive 2-0 victory.

With the win, Argentina confirmed their place in the knockout stage, giving the thousands of fans who travelled to Dallas a memorable victory to celebrate.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar