Argentina faces Austria with both teams having already secured three points from their opening matches, while Algeria and Jordan, also in the same group, have yet to earn any points. Therefore, the clash between these two South American and European representatives will likely decide early on which team advances and who finishes top of the group.
Coach Lionel Scaloni's team demonstrated the strength of the reigning champions with a resounding 3-0 victory over Algeria. Besides a quality defense, Argentina boasts world-class strikers such as Messi, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis MacAllister, Julian Alvarez, and Lautaro Martinez, who are always capable of creating breakthroughs in their attacks.
However, the Austrian team will be a real challenge. Their modern style of play, high-intensity pressing, and ability to switch phases quickly are outstanding strengths of Austria, with key players like Marcel Sabitzer, Konrad Laimer, and Christoph Baumgartner in attack capable of turning the tide of a match. Historically, the two teams have met very rarely, and their last friendly match was over 30 years ago, ending in a 1-1 draw.
After their 3-1 victory over Senegal in the opening match of Group I, France entered their clash with Iraq as the strongest contender for the 2026 World Cup title. Didier Deschamps' team wasn't perfect, but they still showed their ability to finish off opponents with the superior quality of their individual players. Notably, France won without needing to exert their full strength, a signal that should make the remaining opponents in Group I wary. Defender William Saliba emphasized: “We must not underestimate Iraq. They have proven their capabilities on their journey to qualify for the World Cup.” Meanwhile, former star Thierry Henry also warned that teams backed into a corner are often more dangerous than expected.
On the Iraqi side, coach Graham Arnold still declared: "We have the ability to do something that will astound the whole world ."
After nearly three decades of waiting, Norway is enjoying exciting days at the 2026 World Cup. A 4-1 victory over Iraq propelled the Nordic side to the top of Group I. Erling Haaland scored a brace in his World Cup debut, while Martin Odegaard orchestrated the play effectively from behind the attack. However, Senegal is considered a much tougher challenge than Iraq.
Many European experts also believe that this match accurately reflects Norway's competitiveness in the tournament. The Guardian commented: "With Haaland in attack, anything is possible," and noted that the Norwegian defense had not yet faced an opponent with as many fast players as Senegal.
Senegal continued to show they were an energetic team, constantly putting pressure on the French defense at times. But coach Pape Bouna admitted: "Determining how to deal with Haaland is something I've been thinking about a lot."
Jordan will face a major challenge against a determined Algeria in their second match of Group J tomorrow morning. This is considered a pivotal match for both teams, as a defeat would almost certainly mean elimination. Therefore, this encounter is expected to be fast-paced and filled with great determination from both sides.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/thu-thach-lon-cho-cac-ung-vien-vo-dich-post970609.html
