Austrians take on Messi and Dio raring to face Germany | OneFootball

The opening round of fixtures could hardly have gone better for RB Leipzig’s six World Cup representatives. Germany, Ivory Coast, Austria and Norway all won their first games, some of them in emphatic fashion. Now David Raum, Assan Ouédraogo, Yan Diomande, Antonio Nusa and Austria duo Nici Seiwald and Xaver Schlager could take a massive step towards the knockout stage in the second round of fixtures.

There is a huge battle between two RBL stars on Saturday, 20th June, at 22:00 CEST, as Raumi and Assan come up against Yan in a direct battle for top spot in Group E. Both sides have three points on the board, with Germany sitting on a +6 goal difference after their 7-1 win over Curaçao. Ivory Coast, meanwhile, will go into the game full of confidence after beating Ecuador 1-0, having faced the tougher opponent on paper.

Germany may be favourites, but they are very wary of the Ivorians’ attacking threat. In particular, flying winger Yan has certainly caught the attention of Julian Nagelsmann’s squad.

Avoid getting into a foot race with Yan…

“His ability to change pace when dribbling is exceptional. The way he accelerates, slows down and then goes again at incredible speed reminds me of Kingsley Coman,” captain Joshua Kimmich said, drawing a comparison with his former Bayern team-mate. Centre-back Antonio Rüdiger likened Yan, Nicolas Pépé and Amad Diallo to “express trains”. There should be some serious pace on show at Toronto Stadium...

“We have to be switched on at all times. If there are 50 or 60 metres of space behind you and you switch off for even a moment, the last thing you want is to be caught in a foot race,” warned Kimmich. Our captain David Raum also highlighted Yan’s quality ahead of the tournament, noting that Germany will have to stop him getting into his rhythm. It is certain that the Man of the Match against Ecuador will provide a test for Germany’s defence.

Yan said the Elephants are preparing to face “one of the best teams in the world”. “We’re lying in wait,” added the 19-year-old Ivorian, sending out a message of intent.

Nici and Xaver looking to contain Messi

Another hugely intriguing game follows just two days later. On Monday evening at 19:00 CEST, Nici and Xaver’s Austria take on Argentina. The Albiceleste are top of Group J after their 3-0 win over Algeria, with global superstar Lionel Messi stealing the show. Austria, meanwhile, beat Jordan 3-1.

For the side coached by former Leipzig boss Ralf Rangnick, the meeting with the defending champions could prove defining. If Austria beat Argentina, it would not only put them in pole position to win the group – they would also cement their status as dark horses.

At Dallas Stadium in Arlington, much will depend on the midfield duo of Nici and Xaver keeping Messi quiet. Against Algeria, the Inter Miami man scored three times from central positions. For Nicolas Seiwald, this opportunity to face Messi is a childhood dream: “From Kuchl out into the world, to a World Cup against Messi. I don’t think it gets any bigger than that.”

That dream was almost scuppered. During Argentina’s win over Algeria, Messi could easily have been sent off for a bad foul on Aissa Mandi. The referee let the 38-year-old off without a booking.

Toni looking to keep Norway on track

RBL fans may not be getting much sleep in the night from Monday, 22nd June, into Tuesday, 23rd June. Just a few hours after Austria’s huge match, Antonio Nusa and Norway take on Senegal at 02:00 CEST. Norway made a real statement in their first game with a 4-1 win over Iraq. Toni was involved in the build-up to Erling Haaland’s opener.

Norway can expect a trickier test in New Jersey. The West Africans made life difficult for France’s star-studded side for long spells, before eventually losing 3-1. Like France, Norway may need a moment of quality from players who can decide a game – and Toni very much belongs in that category.

“I want to be as important a player as I possibly can – and I know what I can give our team,” Antonio Nusa stated confidently ahead of the World Cup. In an RBL shirt, the winger has shown that he can break down a compact defence with a single dribble or shot from distance.

A win, or even a draw, could be enough for Toni and his teammates to book their place in the round of 32 with a game to spare. France face Iraq a few hours earlier and will be strong favourites to win. In their last group match, Iraq and Senegal will take points off one another, while Norway face Les Bleus in Group I’s final game. Things are looking promising for the RBL stars...

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