Dugout Discussion
22 June 2026 127 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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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.


127 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Totalfootball
    • 9 Years
    4 hours, 1 min ago

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

    1. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 16 mins ago

      I'll hold

    2. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      2 hours, 3 mins ago

      I switched. Not sure if it was the right move. Probably not.

  2. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 51 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
      3 hours, 40 mins ago

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

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        3 hours, 24 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
      3 hours, 28 mins ago

      Very strong this !

    3. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      3 hours, 19 mins ago

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

      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        1 hour, 56 mins ago

        *since

  3. EmreCan Hustle
    • 13 Years
    3 hours, 33 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
    3 hours, 31 mins ago

    Old man Marko Arnautovic ON to change the game

  5. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 hours, 28 mins ago

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

  6. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    3 hours, 25 mins ago

    Have some mixed memories of captaining Arnautovic at Stoke

    1. NZREDS
      • 12 Years
      3 hours, 19 mins ago

      Lol this.

  7. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    3 hours, 25 mins ago

    Stick on Messi or roll to Mbappe?

    Messi probably needs another goal to hold.

    1. NZREDS
      • 12 Years
      3 hours, 18 mins ago

      Def mbappe unless we see another Messi goal

      1. Travel Notes
        • 3 Years
        3 hours, 2 mins ago

        There's the answer. Thoroughly deserved.

        1. NZREDS
          • 12 Years
          3 hours, 1 min ago

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

  8. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    3 hours, 21 mins ago

    Medina with a good YC

  9. Mozumbus
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 15 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
      3 hours, 11 mins ago

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

      1. Mozumbus
        • 4 Years
        3 hours, 8 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
    3 hours, 14 mins ago

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

    1. Haa-lala-land
      • 5 Years
      3 hours, 9 mins ago

      Every player is either a former or future Chelsea player

  11. Riverside Red
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 hours, 5 mins ago

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

  12. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 4 mins ago

    Damn Messi

  13. Riverside Red
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 hours, 4 mins ago

    Messi captain's lucky lucky

  14. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 hours, 3 mins ago

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

  15. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    3 hours, 1 min ago

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

    1. Herger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 56 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
        2 hours, 47 mins ago

        He's a pilot?

      2. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        2 hours, 46 mins ago

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

        1. GreennRed
          • 14 Years
          2 hours, 33 mins ago

          The narcissism and OCD drives him though and similar to a lot of top sports people. Messi has God-given natural talent.

      3. Winging it
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 hours, 43 mins ago

        No you're right Messi is levels above Ronaldo in terms of footballing ability, he's the greatest of all time.

    2. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 27 mins ago

      Both excellent players. Messi is better, but C. Ronaldo is also very good.

      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        1 hour, 41 mins ago

        Ronaldo hasn’t been “very good” for about 5 years

        1. CoracAld2831
          • 5 Years
          1 hour, 39 mins ago

          Fair enough.

          Should have said "has been".

          Still appreciate him as a player.

          1. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            1 hour, 37 mins ago

            Oh yeah he’s still number 2, but that the gap is very large (and even more noticeably so nowadays)

            1. CoracAld2831
              • 5 Years
              1 hour, 30 mins ago

              True.

  16. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    2 hours, 57 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.

    1. Travel Notes
      • 3 Years
      2 hours, 45 mins ago

      Or have a couple of 0-0 draws under their belt.

      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        1 hour, 54 mins ago

        Would be kind of intriguing to see how they handled Jordan in this scenario.

  17. puma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 hours, 55 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
    2 hours, 52 mins ago

    Stick on Messi or twist to Mbappe?

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 50 mins ago

      Very easy stick.

  19. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    2 hours, 50 mins ago

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

  20. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    2 hours, 45 mins ago

    Will messi now play vs jordan? Or rested. I guess he plays and is setting his sights on Fontaine record of 13 goals in a single WC

    1. Travel Notes
      • 3 Years
      2 hours, 41 mins ago

      He probably will if Jordan beat Algeria.

    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      2 hours, 41 mins ago

      Prob rested. He prob puts Argentina's chances above any personal records.

    3. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 41 mins ago

      I think he will regardless, but very reduced minutes.

    4. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 35 mins ago

      I would be surprised if he does

  21. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 hours, 41 mins ago

    No minus points from penalty miss?

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 38 mins ago

      Nope, just -1 to the player conceding and +3 to the goalie if he saves it/miss.

      1. BobbyDoesNotLook
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 hours, 26 mins ago

        Interesting. I think -1 would be fair in WC fantasy and FPL.

        1. CoracAld2831
          • 5 Years
          2 hours, 24 mins ago

          -1 if it is saved by the goalkeeper, -2 if it's a total miss.

          1. CoracAld2831
            • 5 Years
            2 hours, 24 mins ago

            Or post.

  22. wolves_simmo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 hours, 11 mins ago

    If i sub Theo Hernandez on for Raphina (even though hes benched) & he doesn't come on, can i then sub him out tomorrow for another bench player?

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 7 mins ago

      Yes, if you have any players left on the bench playing after him.

  23. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    2 hours, 8 mins ago

    France: Maignan, Koundé, Saliba, Upamecano, Digne, Koné, Rabiot, Olise, Dembélé, Barcola, Mbappé.

    Iraq: Basil, H. Ali, Tahseen, Hashem, Doski, Al-Ammari, Ismail, Bayesh, Iqbal, Qasem, A. Hussein

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 4 mins ago

      France substitutes: Samba, Risser, Gusto, Konaté, L. Hernández, T. Hernández, Lacroix, Tchouaméni, Kanté, Zaïre-Emery, Cherki, Akliouche, Thuram, Doué, Mateta.

      Iraq substitutes: J. Hassan, Talib, Younis, Sulaka, Yahya, Putros, Saadoon, Yakob, Sher, Farji, Amyn, Jasim, M. Ali, Youssef.

  24. FPL Brains
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    2 hours, 2 mins ago

    France game delayed an hour right?

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 hour, 58 mins ago

      The match starts as scheduled at 10 PM UK.

      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        1 hour, 49 mins ago

        Currently.

  25. Czabby12
    • 4 Years
    1 hour, 59 mins ago

    Anyone finding the ability to change captain greyed out?

    1. Czabby12
      • 4 Years
      1 hour, 56 mins ago

      Its only a problem with mbappe…i can do haaland if i want very strange

      1. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        1 hour, 27 mins ago

        Is Mbappe your Vice Captain?

        1. CoracAld2831
          • 5 Years
          1 hour, 23 mins ago

          This might be the problem,.yes.

  26. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 hour, 52 mins ago

    Clear site cookles and try again.

    1. Czabby12
      • 4 Years
      1 hour, 46 mins ago

      Didnt work im afraid

      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        1 hour, 24 mins ago

        Log in to the and out. And try to change to desktop view if not already.

        Last option is restart the machine (tablet/PC) and try again.

        1. CoracAld2831
          • 5 Years
          1 hour, 22 mins ago

          Like the person above me said, you might have him as vc.

          Change the vc to a defender/GK and try again.

          1. FFS ManU
            • 3 Years
            1 hour, 20 mins ago

            This