Rangnick accuses VAR of double standards after Messi double sinks Austria in Dallas

Ralf Rangnick accused match officials of double standards after Austria fell 2-0 to Argentina at Dallas Stadium on Monday, with Lionel Messi scoring twice to become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 18 goals, moving him clear of Miroslav Klose.

Rangnick’s frustration centred on the build-up to Messi’s opener, where Alexis Mac Allister appeared to foul Xaver Schlager before the move concluded. The Austria coach argued that VAR, which had already intervened earlier in the match to overturn a decision and award Argentina a penalty — subsequently missed by Messi — should have been applied with equal scrutiny to the goal.

“For the first goal, I would’ve asked the fourth official to do what he did before the penalty kick — he should have looked and he would’ve seen what everyone saw, a foul on Schlager,” Rangnick said. “It was annoying.”

Despite his grievances, Rangnick was careful to acknowledge Messi’s quality. “If someone is 39 years old and can score two goals and five overall at the beginning of the World Cup, that makes a difference,” he said. “We knew he was on a level of his own and Lionel Messi showed he’s one of the best, or even the best.”

Rangnick conceded that containing Messi for a full 90 minutes was always going to be a near-impossible task. “This is Lionel Messi,” he said. “He doesn’t need many situations to actually decide a match.”

The Austria coach was more self-critical about the second goal, calling it his side’s own fault, and urged his players to have been more direct in front of goal during the second half. “I would’ve asked my players to be braver, to shoot during the second half. We were in control of the ball — most people didn’t expect us to be that much in control,” he said. “I think in the second half we put in a top performance.”

Austria entered the match having beaten Jordan 3-1 in their opening fixture and remain in contention for a place in the knockout rounds heading into their final group-stage game against Algeria.