Dugout Discussion
22 June 2026 89 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
Share:

After winning their respective Round 1 matches fairly comfortably, Argentina and Austria meet each other in Dallas.

Kick-off is at 18:00 BST.

Should either side win, they’ll secure their qualification to the knockout rounds.

It’s also possible that we’ll know who the Group J winners are in the coming 12 hours or so:

  • If Argentina beat Austria and Jordan fail to beat Algeria, Argentina will be confirmed as Group J winners
  • If Austria beat Argentina and Algeria fail to beat Jordan, Austria will be confirmed as Group J winners

TEAM NEWS

There’s one change made by Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni, with Nahuel Molina ($4.4m) taking the place of Gonzalo Montiel ($4.3m). The latter had suffered a hamstring issue in the win over Algeria.

Julian Alvarez ($8.6m) has to again be content with a place among the substitutes.

There are three alterations for Austria, whose head coach, Ralf Rangnick, recalls Kevin Danso ($4.3m), Michael Gregoritsch ($6.0m) and Paul Wanner ($5.6m).

Sasa Kalajdzic ($6.0m), Philipp Lienhart ($4.3m) and Phillipp Mwene ($3.9m) drop out.

Despite scoring a penalty off the bench in Round 1, Marko Arnautovic ($6.0m) is once again on substitute duty.

Much of the Fantasy interest is with Scaloni’s side.

Austria’s most-picked player, Marcel Sabitzer ($6.8m), is in fewer squads than 11 different Argentina players! No surprise who is top of the ownership stakes in this contest…

LINE-UPS

Argentina XI: E Martínez, Molina, Romero, Li Martínez, Medina, De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernández, Almada, Messi, La Martínez.

Subs: Musso, Senesi, Tagliafico, Montiel, Paredes, Barco, Álvarez, Lo Celso, Rulli, Palacios, González, Simeone, Paz, Otamendi, Lopez.

Austria XI: A Schlager, Posch, Danso, Alaba, Laimer, Seiwald, X Schlager, Schmid, Sabitzer, Wanner, Gregoritsch.

Subs: Affengruber, Arnautović, Grillitsch, Wiegele, Pentz, Kalajdzic, Lienhart, Mwene, Chukwuemeka, Ljubicic, Wimmer, Prass, Friedl, Svoboda, Schopf.


89 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Totalfootball
    • 9 Years
    1 hour, 15 mins ago

    Switch captain from vinicius (12) to mbappe or Hold ?

    1. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      11 mins ago

      I'll hold

  2. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 hour, 5 mins ago

    Also the rolling captain should be available in FPL…nothing worse than a first game cappo blank - they need to bring this in for next season…

    1. NZREDS
      • 12 Years
      53 mins ago

      Not sure it would work out with the time zones - I’d miss out most games!

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        4 mins ago

        Ah yeah true, but it would mean less pressure on one pick, which can ruin a GW before the second games played lol

    2. Totalfootball
      • 9 Years
      42 mins ago

      Very strong this !

    3. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      33 mins ago

      Gathering it is happening in FPL Challenge, i can see it being added on FPL eventually in some form.

  3. EmreCan Hustle
    • 13 Years
    47 mins ago

    Austria are trying to play one touch football near the opposition box.

    It's commendable, but they just lack the skill, IMO.

    Should just play more pragmatic football.

  4. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    45 mins ago

    Old man Marko Arnautovic ON to change the game

  5. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    42 mins ago

    Here comes Arnie, pretty sure he said "Hasta la vista, baby" to Alba as he went off

  6. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    39 mins ago

    Have some mixed memories of captaining Arnautovic at Stoke

    1. NZREDS
      • 12 Years
      32 mins ago

      Lol this.

  7. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    39 mins ago

    Stick on Messi or roll to Mbappe?

    Messi probably needs another goal to hold.

    1. NZREDS
      • 12 Years
      32 mins ago

      Def mbappe unless we see another Messi goal

      1. Travel Notes
        • 3 Years
        16 mins ago

        There's the answer. Thoroughly deserved.

        1. NZREDS
          • 12 Years
          15 mins ago

          Haha yeh there it is - makes the decision harder now but probably a stick

  8. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    35 mins ago

    Medina with a good YC

  9. Mozumbus
    • 4 Years
    29 mins ago

    Decided to stick with Cucurella (c) against switching to Messi
    Paying off so far
    Still I'll not mind a goal or an assist from Messi, was afraid of another big haul

    1. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 mins ago

      Are you planning to move to Mbappe or Haaland or sticking with Cucurella?

      1. Mozumbus
        • 4 Years
        2 mins ago

        Mbappe is 12th man, otherwise I might have moved, not necessarily though
        Got Haaland but I'd stick most probably

  10. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    28 mins ago

    Feels like for every sub commentators say "Former Chelsea player XXXXX is coming on"

    1. Haa-lala-land
      • 5 Years
      4 mins ago

      Every player is either a former or future Chelsea player

  11. Riverside Red
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    19 mins ago

    Are Austria playing for a 1-0 loss....no urgency at all.
    Argentina totally overrated

  12. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    18 mins ago

    Damn Messi

  13. Riverside Red
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    18 mins ago

    Messi captain's lucky lucky

  14. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    17 mins ago

    Don't own Messi but still jumped for joy when he scored, history maker!

  15. Homelando’s fragile ego won’t be coping well with this.

    1. Herger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      10 mins ago

      I doubt Ronaldo even thinks of Messi at all. He knows Messi is not on his level. He’s done it in the Premier League and he’s better in the air

      1. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        1 min ago

        He's a pilot?

      2. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        just now

        Who cares? Messi was, is and will remain better' than Ronaldo, who is only playing for ego and break appearances records

  16. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    10 mins ago

    An easy routine 2-0.win for Argentina.

    5 goals scored by Argentina, all from Messl. Without him, they would be in trouble.

  17. puma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    8 mins ago

    Felt like Messi was not going to have the output his price tag commanded. I was wrong. Pretty special to see at 38+...

  18. Longlatini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 mins ago

    Stick on Messi or twist to Mbappe?

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      4 mins ago

      Very easy stick.

  19. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    4 mins ago

    Messi really a living legend. Greatest footballer of all time.