Lionel Messi’s two goals helped Argentina defeat Austria in their Group J match, but Lionel Scaloni was also impressed by his captain’s work without the ball. The Albiceleste coach praised Messi’s commitment and influence, while warning that the path to defending the World Cup will remain difficult despite their strong start. Argentina Battles Past Austria with Messi Leading The Way Argentina secured an important Group J victory over Austria, with Messi scoring twice in a 2-0 win at Dallas Stadium. While his goals proved decisive, Scaloni highlighted another aspect of the veteran forward’s performance that impressed him most. The Argentina coach pointed to Messi’s defensive work in the build-up to the opening goal, stressing that his willingness to fight for the team continues to set the standard. Ralf Rangnick’s side attempted to disrupt the Albiceleste with an aggressive and physical approach, but Scaloni’s men ultimately found a way through and maintained their momentum in the tournament. Scaloni Praises Messi’s Example Speaking after the match, Scaloni emphasised the impact Messi has on the entire squad. The Argentina boss also addressed the growing optimism surrounding his side’s title defence. “When Leo gets going, everyone gets going, and that’s a credit to the team,” Scaloni explained, as quoted by “The people get excited seeing the team, seeing how they compete and enjoy themselves. There are a lot of teams that can be world champions and they’re going to compete. Some of the big teams are going to win, we’re going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be tough for everyone.” Argentina Showing Resilience as Expectations Rise Although Argentina emerged victorious, Scaloni made clear that the performance was not flawless. He compared Austria’s challenge to their previous meeting with Algeria and acknowledged there were still areas to improve. “It was similar to the match against Algeria, against an opponent with high-caliber players who make things difficult and are in good physical condition. There are things to correct, but winning makes everything easier,” Scaloni said. “I’m convinced that when the opponent tried to make things difficult for us, I’m not so sure if that superiority translated into shots on goal.” Facing the Final Challenge of The Group Stage Although the Albiceleste have already secured their place in the round of 32, Messi and his team-mates will remain focused on facing Jordan in the final matchday of Group J at Dallas Stadium on Sunday. With this certainty, Scaloni has the opportunity to rotate his squad to give players like Giuliano Simeone, Nico Paz, and Valentin Barco a chance to start.