Soccer-Argentina select Molina to replace Montiel for Austria clash


Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Argentina Training - Sporting KC Training Centre, Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. - June 19, 2026 Argentina's Nahuel Molina during training REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

ARLINGTON, ⁠Texas, June 22 (Reuters) - Argentina coach Lionel ⁠Scaloni has made one change to ‌his starting lineup from the side that won 3-0 against Algeria in their World Cup opener for ​the meeting with Austria in ⁠Dallas with Nahuel Molina ⁠replacing Gonzalo Montiel.

* Ralf Rangnick has made ⁠three ‌changes to the Austria team that won 3-1 against Jordan, with ⁠Kevin Danso, Paul Wanner and Michael Gregoritsch ​coming in ‌for Philipp Lienhart, Phillipp Mwene and ⁠Sasa Kalajdzic.

* ​Lionel Messi will play for Argentina for the 201st time, extending his record as ⁠his nation's most capped player.

* Marcel ​Sabitzer will make his 100th appearance for Austria and starts in midfield alongside Romano Schmid.

Lineups:

Argentina: ⁠Emiliano Martinez; Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Facundo Medina, Nahuel Molina, Rodrigo de Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Lionel Messi, ​Thiago Almada, Lautaro Martinez

Austria: Alexander ⁠Schlager; Kevin Danso, Stefan Posch, David Alaba, ​Xaver Schlager, Nicolas Seiwald, ‌Marcel Sabitzer, Romano Schmid, Konrad ​Laimer, Paul Wanner, Michael Gregoritsch

(Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Toby Davis)

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