Ralf Rangnick criticises VAR as Lionel Messi double sinks Austria
Austria manager Ralf Rangnick has strongly criticised the officiating and perceived VAR double standards following his team’s 2-0 defeat to defending champions Argentina in Dallas.
Lionel Messi struck twice to secure victory for the South American side, surpassing Miroslav Klose to become the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history with 18 goals.
However, the Austria head coach was left visibly frustrated by the build-up to the opening strike, citing an unpunished challenge by Alexis Mac Allister on midfielder Xaver Schlager.
VAR inconsistencies draw criticism
The former Manchester United manager felt aggrieved that the video assistant referee failed to intervene for the foul, contrasting the inaction with a separate review that led to an early penalty for Argentina.
“For the first goal, I would’ve asked the fourth official to do what he did before the penalty kick,” Rangnick stated.
“He should have looked and he would’ve seen what everyone saw, a foul on Schlager.”
Despite his annoyance with the match officials, the 65-year-old acknowledged that his defensive unit was partially to blame for conceding the second goal of the encounter.
The enduring brilliance of the Argentina captain
The fixture showcased another historic milestone for the 39-year-old Argentine forward, who managed to recover from missing an early spot-kick awarded by referee Amin Omar.
Rangnick was quick to praise the enduring quality of the former Barcelona playmaker, admitting there was little his team could do to completely neutralise the threat over 90 minutes.
“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 noted.
“We knew he was on a level of his own and Lionel Messi showed he’s one of the best, or even the best.”
Qualification hopes remain firmly intact
Despite the frustrating setback in Texas, the European outfit remain firmly in contention to reach the knockout phases after securing a 3-1 victory over Jordan in their opening match.
Austria will now face Algeria in their final group fixture, with progression to the next round still very much in their own hands.
Reflecting on the overall performance against the defending champions, the national team boss praised his players for their unexpected dominance in possession.
“I would’ve asked my players to be braver, to shoot during the second half, but we were in control of the ball,” he concluded.
