Alexis Mac Allister is going through an excellent phase and stands out as one of Argentina’s main drivers this Monday (22), at 2pm (Brasília time), in the duel against Austria, at the AT&T Stadium, in Arlington (Texas), in the second round of Group J of the World Cup. The midfielder, with his vision, precise passes and arrival in front, was important in the debut with a 3-0 victory over Algeria.
Leader of the group with three points, Lionel Scaloni’s team can guarantee first place and early classification with a good result. Mac Allister acts as a creative hub, connecting the midfield with the attack of Messi and Julián Álvarez.
Austria uses a strong midfield to neutralize Argentine creation
Austria debuted with a 3-1 victory over Jordan and also have three points. Coached by Ralf Rangnick, the European team has a compact and qualified midfield, with Sabitzer, Laimer and Seiwald as references — a sector where Mac Allister usually makes the difference.
The clash promises an intense battle in midfield. Austria will seek to limit Mac Allister’s spaces, while Argentina will use their technical quality to dominate possession.
Probable lineup and importance of Mac Allister
Scaloni must maintain the winning formation: Emiliano Martínez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martínez and Medina; DePaul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Messi, Julián Álvarez and Thiago Almada (or adjustments). Mac Allister has the freedom to dictate the pace, activate the attackers and appear in the area.
For Austria: Schlager; Posch, Lienhart, Alaba, Mwene; Laimer, X. Schlager, Seiwald, Sabitzer, Schmid; Arnautović. The challenge will be to contain the influence of the Argentine midfielder.
Mac Allister decisive for Argentine success
Alexis Mac Allister has established himself as an indispensable starter since the 2022 World Cup. His refined technique and tactical intelligence help Argentina control big games. A victory today reinforces the midfield as a big difference in the search for the title.
Scaloni relies on Mac Allister’s consistency to organize the actions, while Rangnick plans ways to reduce their impact.
Where to watch live:TV Globo, SBT, SporTV, CazéTV (Disney+), Globoplay and GE TV.