Rangnick takes positives from Austria's defeat to Argentina, while criticising two key incidents

Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick praised his team's performance despite a 2-0 loss to Argentina in their World Cup Group J match on Monday, noting their strong second-half display and control of possession. Lionel Messi scored twice to secure Argentina's place in the knockout stage and move three points clear of Austria at the top of the group with one matchday remaining.

"During every match in the World Cup, there are times where one team has the momentum on its side," Rangnick told reporters. "Obviously it was in our favor that they missed the penalty. After that there was a period when we were in the game. In the second half, we were in control of possession, which most people didn't expect, and we put in a top performance."

Despite the defeat, Austria remains well placed to reach the round of 32 and needs a draw or victory in its final group match against Algeria on Saturday to guarantee qualification. Rangnick rejected suggestions that his side had been too cautious after falling behind, pointing out that they made changes at halftime and played with two strikers, while still being mindful of the risks.

However, the 67-year-old coach expressed frustration with two specific incidents. "First, there was a foul on Xaver Schlager before the first Argentina goal, and second, I didn't like our behavior before the 0-2 goal," Rangnick told Kronen Zeitung. "We had three opportunities to bring the ball into the opponent's goal area but we failed."

Speaking about Messi's decisive contribution, Rangnick acknowledged the threat posed by the Argentina captain. "This is Lionel Messi. He doesn't need many chances to decide a match." The coach also voiced support for hydration breaks during matches, saying they give managers a chance to communicate tactical adjustments, even if the air-conditioned stadium in Dallas made it less necessary.