WORLD CUP GROUP J: The Ultra previews ARGENTINA v AUSTRIA with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
🏆 World Cup 2026 🏆
🇦🇷 Argentina v Austria 🇦🇹
6pm Group J’s big one arrives on Monday evening as Argentina take on Austria in Dallas on WORLD CUP 2026 Betdaq Betting Exchange! ! Both sides won comfortably on Matchday One, obviously Messi making the headlines with a superb hat-trick, which means this is effectively a straight shootout for top spot in the Group. This was always likely to be the case of course, but we have already seen a few upsets with Spain and Portugal being held recently. Messi produced an absolute masterclass against Algeria, and Argentina will be hoping for more of the same against a useful but limited Austria side. No surprise that Argentina are the odds on favourites at 1.63 with Austria 6.6 and the draw is 4.1 at the time of writing.
It’s hard to overstate how good Messi was in that opener. Basically when you have questions of “is he wasted in the MLS” rather than “is he too old now” you know he’s still got it! Compare that to the chat around Ronaldo. It also took him level with Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals. The third goal in particular was vintage Messi, a mazy run finished with that trademark left foot, and Argentina barely had to break sweat in a comfortable 3-0 win. At 39 in this tournament, every game now carries a faint farewell-tour quality, but there was nothing sentimental about the finishing; Scaloni even withdrew him late on to a standing ovation with the game already won. Now Messi and Argentina face a tougher test though, and this game will probably give us more of a guide on can Argentina actually defend their title.
Also, as I touched on in my Golden Boot preview, we’ve already backed Messi at 19.0 to top the scoring charts on the logic that Argentina have a soft draw and he’s the penalty taker for the side most likely to go furthest with the least resistance. A hat-trick in game one is about as good a start as that bet could have asked for! Everyone else seems to be scoring too though; Mbappe and Harry Kane! Austria had a comfortable win first time out too; 3-1 over Jordan was Austria’s first World Cup victory since 1990. Ralf Rangnick has built a side with a clear defensive structure and plenty of energy in midfield through Sabitzer and Laimer, and they go into this full of confidence as the form team many felt would push Argentina hardest in this Group. A draw isn’t a bad result here for Austria, and I’d expect them to set up with that in mind.
WORLD CUP 2026 Betdaq Betting Exchange!
We have so much attacking talent with both sides here, it’s hard to see a cagey affair, but you’d have to expect Austria to not want an open game here. Over 2.5 goals is 2.04 with the market obviously 50/50 for a reason. Both Teams To Score is trading two ticks bigger 2.06. I couldn’t put anyone off either bet, but I don’t think they offer the same amount of value at the Argentina win at 1.63. Even with Austria’s pedigree, the gap in individual quality here is significant, and Argentina will know how important finishing top in this Group is given the likely path to the Semi-Final from there. I like Argentina in the Outright market, Messi in the Golden Boot market, and I’m happy with a confident bet on 1.63 here.
The Ultra Says:
Three points win Argentina to beat Austria at 1.63 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/WCArAu
