Right then, the match report from Nick Ames in Dallas has now landed. So I will thank you all for your many emails and conclude this minute-by-minute.

The Lionel Messi roadshow rolls on, and on, and on. Has there ever been a better player in footballing history? Probably not. Can anyone stop him at this World Cup? Well that remains to be seen. For now, Argentina are two from two and Messi has five goals in two – so it’s been a pretty strong start.

Thanks and bye!

The action barely stops. Our live coverage of France v Iraq has already begun and you can join Tim de Lisle for all the buildup.

Jordan v Algeria later on really gives both teams a chance to make a claim for second spot. Whoever wins it will be level on three points with Austria.

Ralf Rangnick’s team will be assured of second spot, whatever happens, if they beat Algeria in their final group contest.

An email has arrived from an unimpressed Samuel Dobson:

Apart from the England game (that was fun, wasn’t it?!), this is the second successive World Cup in which I’ve found myself lacking the motivation to watch any of the other games. Something about all the overt corruption, blood oil money, peace prizes, etc. this follows that glorious period in my life (ah, student days) where I tuned into every match at Germany 06, South Africa 10, Brazil 14.

Messi piqued my interest enough for me to tune into this game. But it has been excruciating for the most part. Dare I risk another match?

England play again tomorrow Samuel, perhaps the Three Lions can roar you awake again!

Messi even had time to fire a late free-kick just wide as he searched for a successive hat-trick. Now that would have been ridiculous stuff.

He could have easily had three today, of course, let’s not forget he missed a penalty early in the piece.

90 mins +4: Sabitzer will throw this late free-kick into the mixer… and Danso’s header puts it into an even more dangerous area, with Wimmer trying to flick it goalwards with his head. That wasn’t far away at all.

90 mins + 2: Maybe it’s simply been a case of Argentina being solid enough in defence to keep out a limited Austrian attack.

Paredes is booked. Can Rangnick’s team conjure something up late on here?

Added time: As Argentina slow the game down and look to keep the ball, the fourth official’s board displays five minutes.

Gonzalez is tripped to win a free-kick for the holders deep into Austrian territory.

89 mins: There’s a ‘he is human after all’ moment from Messi as he hits a stray pass into midfield for Austria to gobble up and break away. Yet again, their progress is halted by a clever Argentinian foul. No momentum.

87 mins: Danso and others put their bodies on the line in a series of vital blocks by Austria. At the other end, they are finally throwing the ball into the box in the general direction of Arnautović.

85 mins: Even the commentators are urging Austria to be a bit more, er, urgent. And Rangnick is introducing the dangerous Carney Chukwuemeka into his attack. Good move, Ralf.

84 mins: There is an argument that Argentina are something of the Atlético Madrid of international football, many of them schooled in the Diego Simeone-inspired dark arts. The difference between them and Atléti is… they have Lionel Messi.

“Austria are so toothless,” writes Mark Horan on email. “And Argentina plays in a way that makes people hate football. All machismo bullsh*t while falling down at every opportunity.”

Tell us what you really think, Mark.

82 mins: Leandro Paredes is on for Argentina as Scaloni beefs up his midfield, with De Paul trudging off behind the net as Austria prepare to take a corner. Medina is taken off too after that booking, replaced by the experienced Nicolás Tagliafico.

81 mins: If Argentina play this like against the really top sides, they won’t win the World Cup.

There’s a prediction for you.

80 mins: Martínez has taken a bit of a bash in the head (emphasis on the word ‘bit’) and has stayed down. Arnautović did catch him as he tried to get to Laimer’s ball and the keeper smothered.

78 mins: I know there are a lot of Messi devotees out there, but the neutrals are surely screaming for an Austria goal to spice up the end of this match. At the moment, it doesn’t look overly likely.

77 mins: There’s a bit of a scuffle between Facundo Medina and Konrad Laimer, who both get yellow cards for their trouble. I’m struggling to comprehend that Medina is the first Argentinian player booked in this game… and that i took nearly 77 minutes.

75 mins: What’s the opposite of a classic? Whatever it is, this game fits into that particular category.

It’s taken nearly 73 minutes for Argentina to get a corner in this game. Here is that corner, which Messi swings in … and Nico Gonzalez will be annoyed he hasn’t headed that in.

He met it with a glancing near-post header, but it whizzed just wide of the far post.

71 mins: I thought by the way Austria began this second half that we’d see more impetus from Ralf Rangnick’s team. They’re quite well organised but, to me, are seriously lacking in end product.

We’re back under way.

Thank you to Mark Schmidt and Sandgk in my email inbox, who have clarified that referees can only take away incorrectly given corners, but cannot award a corner that’s initially been given a goal kick. There’s logic for you.

It’s the 69th minute, so it’s time for some hydration, which will take absolutely ages for no reason whatsoever. Boos from the stands.

Ralf Rangnick is rolling the dice now. Wanner, Posch and Alaba go off and Marko Arnautović, Friedl and Prass are thrown on. You’d think Arnautović would fashion himself a chance over the next 23 minutes or so.

67 mins: For what it’s worth I think the ref, Amin Omar, has largely done OK. There have been loads of fouls.

Gregoritsch heads over the bar after good work by Sabitzer down the left.

65 mins: Argentina are absolutely incensed they haven’t been awarded a corner. It did look like Schlager parried away Messi’s shot. I thought VAR was intervening in such matters during this World Cup? Apparently not.

64 mins: Some tigerish defending from Austria’s tough-tackling midfield keeps Messi and co at bay. He is drifting back into the game now, the little fella.

Another big cheer greets the arrival of Julián Alvarez. He and Nico Gonzalez are on, with Lautaro replaced.

This truly is the World Cup of ducks, isn’t it? More of a Dawn the Duck myself (admits it).

61 mins: One underrated aspect of this Argentina side, perhaps, is their defence. They don’t concede many and have been able to hold Austria at arm’s length for much of this contest.

As Argentina counter, Almada lays it off nicely to Enzo Fernández, whose shot is blocked.

59 mins: The next goal determines the outcome of this game, without a doubt (again I am Captain Obvious). If Austria get it, anything could happen. If Messi anyone from Argentina can make it 2-0, it’s game set and match.

57 mins: This could be doing them a disservice – I only saw highlights of Argentina’s game against Algeria, rather than the full thing – but they still seem like a ‘moments’ team, quite reliant on Messi pulling a rabbit from the hat. Very much like they were in 2022.

A huge cheer goes up. Not for Nicolas Otamendi replacing Romero, but for Shakira appearing on screen. Waka waka.

Sabitzer forces a decent save from Emi Martínez! That was a strong hit from the former Manchester United loanee, and (I think) Austria’s first effort on target of the game.

55 mins: Yet another Argentina foul, yet another opportunity for the referee to give them a card not taken … but this is a good chance for Austria here. Sabitzer stands over the kick.

53 mins: After Messi’s chipped free-kick is scrambled clear by the Austrian defence, Steve chips into the debate re stutter run-ups for penalties:

Saw the question – players are statistically far more likely to score a penalty if they blast it down the middle than try and position it. It’s not even close – wanging it straight at the middle of the goal is the way to go by some distance, but few do because if you’re going to miss you want to miss at least looking like you’ve applied some craft and skill, as fans are more forgiving of that. I reckon stuttering is the same?

51 mins: Messi is played clean through and, shockingly, takes a couple of heavy touches which forces him wide. He was offside – by quite a distance, actually – in any case.

50 mins: Romero continues and Argentina seek to get a grip of this second period. Their passing pace is sedate for 90% of the time. Alaba nods away De Paul’s lofted cutback.

49 mins: An even bigger roar – maybe a roar of discontent – goes up as Xaver Schlager trips up Messi. How dare you foul the great man?

Cristian Romero is now down and looking rather disconsolate as he clutches his knee. The Tottenham defender has not been without his injury troubles in recent years.

48 mins: Emi Martínez hasn’t had to do much so far but a solid catch from the Aston Villa goalkeeper gets a big cheer from the Argentina fans.

47 mins: There’s a real hustle and bustle about Austria at the start of the second half with Schmid displaying some tidy feet and Wanner popping up in the pocket. Just a bit more composure needed with the passing.

Second half: Here we go again. More Messi magic in the next 45 minutes or an Austrian comeback to chuck a cat into the proverbial pigeons?

A little Barney Ronay plug for you as we prepare for the second half to get under way in Dallas.

Just to mark your card for the rest of this World Cup, here is the current all-time scoring list as it now stands:

• Lionel Messi (ARG) 17

• Miroslav Klose (GER) 16

• Ronaldo (BRA) 15

• Gerd Müller (GER) / Kylian Mbappé (FRA) 14

Why do players stutter in their penalty run-ups? After Harry Kane’s miss versus Croatia (which was scored on the second attempt, of course, sans stutter) and Ebere Eze in the Champions League final, it’s definitely a question worth asking.

Hi Dominic. This is Prajwal and I am mailing you from New York. Why do players still stutter in the run-up to a penalty? I think the stats back me up here – stuttering is never good for the penalty taker – even Messi has trouble getting it right. James Beattie would have put that away.

So James Beattie > Lionel Messi, is what Prajwal is basically saying.

An email from Harry Desmond wins the ‘pun of the day’ award of the day. Give yourself a pat on the back.

A lot of the Uzbek players have “-bek” in their name; if Austria played them would it be Posch vs Beks?

45 mins + 6: The half is ending amid a wall of Argentinian noise. There are some very happy faces in blue and white shirts in Dallas.

Louise has emailed in: “Getting really sick of these referees not giving cards to Argentina. Clear fouls. Even the VAR does nothing. Its 2022 all over again.”

Well indeed there was Messi’s challenge in the Algeria game. There’s been nothing red-worthy in this one so far but numerous potential yellows have been overlooked by the officials.

45 mins + 5: Sabitzer hits a lovely diagonal from left to right but it remains a statement of fact that Austria cannot penetrate the Argentina back line. Looks like Lionel Scaloni’s men are happy to play this out to half-time and rest on their 1-0 lead.

45 mins + 2: The link-up between Laimer and Sabitzer on the left remains Austria’s most potent partnership. The issue for Ralf Rangnick’s side at the moment is getting the ball into the box and into a shooting position, which they’re not doing often enough.

Their midfield and pressing is earning them turnovers and territory. But they need a tad more than that.

We’ll have a whopping seven added minutes at the end of the first half. Austria are looking to increase the tempo.

43 mins: Danso is a bit late on Messi. Austria are losing their discipline somewhat here.

Mac Allister than bundles over Schmid, mind you. Stop-start doesn’t quite cover it.

42 mins: I know Argentina missed a penalty as well as scoring but I honestly think 1-0 is a bit harsh on Austria. The holders haven’t created very much.

41 mins: Posch is the first player to be booked and I’m surprised it’s taken so long. Equally surprised that an Argentina player hasn’t been booked with the amount of fouls they’ve committed.

Almada set it up really nicely, laying off to the left and then stepping over the cutback from Medina. The finish was vintage Messi, tucked away with his left foot, minimum of fuss.

The missed penalty is already ancient history. Messi sit top of the World Cup scoring tree.

38 mins: Replays show that Romero careless caught Gregoritsch with a stray elbow on the back of his head. Not like him, is it?

It’s still a bit of a scruffy game in Dallas.

37 mins: Lautaro and Fernández nearly link up after a fine through-ball found the Inter captain. Austria are so good at getting bodies back, though.

35 mins: Enzo Fernández, of course, is also dictating the tempo but it’s a bit one-paced at the moment. Other than Lautaro up top, there isn’t a great deal of pace about this Argentina side. They miss Julian Alvarez.

34 mins: Argentina have finally managed to find a modicum of control. The likes of De Paul and Mac Allister are getting on the ball.

32 mins: Messi just cushioned a first-time volleyed touch into the path of Almada that nearly brought the opener. How did he even see that pass? Schlager actually reacted to it well, coming off his line to get there first.

On the penalty, David Ward has emailed me just to say “Ronaldo wouldn’t have missed that”.

No, but on current form he would have missed everything else.

29 mins: The Austrian midfield are so compact, so energetic, that Argentina simply cannot play through them. The World Cup holders are reliant on counter-attacks through to Messi and Lautaro – and even they’re few and far between.

27 mins: We’re back under way after three minutes well spent having a sip of water.

As promised, while the players have their drinkypoos:

“As much as I am glad Messi did not break Klose’s record on a penalty, I think the decision was the right one. The defender on Martinez’s left side slid in his foot and it blocked Martinez’s attempt to shoot before it flicked the ball away. The player on the right side was the one bringing him down, but the damage was done before.” João André

“Messi takes penalties because he’s the icon. He’s missed the most ever apparently. Speaking as a Brighton fan, Mac Allister was excellent…” – Roger Kay

Hydration break time. I might have my own, given the sweltering conditions in south Manchester right now. I’ll get to a couple of your emails too …

23 mins: Stefan Posch, like his right-back counterpart from England Djed Spence, is wearing a chin protector. Quite scary, those things.

Sabitzer pings a low shot into bodies after arriving late in the box and Austria have the game’s first corner. They’re doing OK, the European side.

21 mins: Nobody can keep hold of the ball, or avoid making a foul, for more than 30 seconds in this game. The ref might start handing his cards out soon.

19 mins: Magnificent feet from Messi and Argentina and their star man nearly have their goal. Schlager in the Austrian net smothers it to safety.

It was flicked into his path by Lautaro – the first real sense that the strike pair are dovetailing together.

16 mins: I know this is an obvious thing to say at this stage in his career, but Messi offers so little in defence it’s frightening. Austria are so different – every man is engaged in a pretty fierce press.

15 mins: Marcel Sabitzer, winning his 100th Austria cap today, whips in the delivery from the left, low, but it’s at the near post and easily scuffed clear.

14 mins: Austria are enjoying their best spell at the moment. Danso is putting himself about from centre-back and Argentina are struggling to escape, making a number of fouls. Wanner is tripped by Molina on the left-hand edge of the area.

11 mins: Speaking of Messi … this game has been very messy since it restarted after the penalty. Austria need to calm down and get a foothold in it.

10 mins: It was a horribly taken spot-kick by the great man, shanked well wide after a stuttery slow run-up. Maybe that’s justice, as the penalty decision seemed a little harsh on Austria.

Take a breath everyone. One we go.

I wonder who will be taking this penalty?

PENALTY TO ARGENTINA! After a long old wait, the referee is sent across to the screen to review his decision. It’s a funny one as one of the sliding Austrian defenders got a touch on the ball but the other brought Lautaro Martinez down. Given it!

VAR CHECK: Amin Mohamed Omar didn’t give the penalty but the video assistants want a look at this one.

5 mins: Lovely play from Molina at right-back gets Argentina going. It was a delicious flick and run and the sequence ended with Lautaro going down in the box after Messi’s through-ball. The referee does nothing other than to stop play to check Lautaro is OK.

It didn’t look like a penalty to me. Two Austrian players, Posch and Schlager, slid in.

3 mins: Almada can only find the side netting with an early effort, as the teams get to grips with each other. High pressing on both sides so far.

1 min: I still don’t think we’ve had a game in this tournament that’s kicked off on time. This was pretty close to it, in fairness. Messi starts the game with a little stroll up the pitch. No wasting energy at this stage.

The stadium is mostly full of Argentina fans and they’re making an almighty noise. It’s hard not to paint this as an occasion that’s all about Lionel Messi … but plenty will have come just to see him play today. Kick-off next.

Here come the teams out of the tunnel and the pre-match pomp and ceremony is beginning, anthems et al.

A Messi-related email has landed from David Wall:

I’ve got to take issue with your description of Messi’s hat-trick in the opening game as brilliant. I’ll give you the third was high quality but the other two were pretty much chucked in by the Algerian goalkeeper. It’s the lowest value World Cup hat-trick since Harry Kane’s in 2018 against Panama (one header from about six yards, one penalty, and one that deflected off his heel when he was trying to get out of the way). Add in the fact that he was incredibly fortunate not to be sent off (presumably the VAR trained on footage from one of those old-fashioned all-village kickabouts), and I thought the hype about his performance was massively over the top. If Argentina are going to continue with their approach of tailoring the team to get the most out of Messi (even though Julián Álvarez is a much more effective forward now) then he’ll need to do a lot more than he showed against Algeria if they’re going to retain the trophy.

Lionel Messi overhyped?! Surely not.

The BBC commentary team on duty for this game (for UK viewers), Steve Bower and Danny Murphy, are perched up high in the Dallas Stadium wearing what seems like a polo shirt uniform.

“Austria are going to be high-energy,” is Murphy’s pearl of wisdom, also believing “Argentina are going to try and find Messi” with the ball. Take from that what you will.

Please sit down with a cold beverage and enjoy Nick Ames’ preview of the game. I particularly enjoyed this passage.

The scene is set for Messi to imbue the date with fresh significance. Scaloni was asked what he would wish for his captain, who is competing here while his father, Jorge, undergoes medical treatment, when he turned 39 on Wednesday. “My wish is for him to be happy,” he said. Messi and Argentina, both in radiant form, aim to continue bringing the joy.

Conceding a goal to Jordan – ranked 68th in the world – probably isn’t filling Austrian fans with confidence ahead of facing Lionel Messi, who will surely become the World Cup’s most prolific goalscorer sooner rather than later. No offence to Jordan, but this is Messi we’re talking about here.

I guess the question for Argentina is where their goals come from if Messi has an off day. Lautaro Martínez can be profligate, missing as often as scoring, and the 4-4-2 shape that Lionel Scaloni likes can make it hard for the midfielders to get in on the scoring action. Thiago Almada will have to provide a threat from the left, but the Atlético Madrid wideman only managed four goals and two assists across 40 club appearances in all competitions in the season just gone.

Romano Schmid may not have been a name familiar to many outside Austria and Germany before this World Cup, but he got his nation’s tournament off to an eye-catching start with a stellar strike from distance against Jordan. He starts on the right-wing today.

Swot up on Austria before the game with our handy team guide. Led by Ralf Rangnick, the high priest of high pressing himself, they are a super solid outfit, keen to enjoy their first World Cup since 1998 after qualifying for three successive European Championships.

While we’re counting down to kick-off, I will share the official Austria World Cup anthem, which my colleague Daniel Harris shared with me. It’s an absolute bop in fairness.

Austria’s rivalry with Germany is such that they may not be too upset if Messi scores today … as he will surpass Miroslav Klose’s World Cup scoring record. Then-again, there is a big German flavour to this Austrian side with Rangnick in charge and of course many of their players based in the German Bundesliga.

Aside from conceding a sloppy goal to tournament debutants Jordan, Austria were fairly impressive in their first group outing. Defeat today. however, would set up a nervy final game against Algeria, where qualification for the knockout rounds will likely be on the line. The two other Group J teams meet in several hours’ time in San Francisco.