Scaloni cools Argentina title talk after Messi record

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni refused to label his side the outright World Cup favorite after Lionel Messi became the tournament's all-time leading scorer in Monday's 2-0 win over Austria.

The victory secured Argentina's place in the knockout stage and left the defending champion top of Group J with six points from two matches.

"There are many teams that can win this World Cup, maybe seven or eight," Scaloni told a post-match news conference. "This tournament isn't only about favorites or individual players. Fitness, mentality and many other factors matter."

"I think one of the big teams will win it. We will be contenders, but it will be difficult for us against those teams and difficult for them against us."

Messi scored twice in Dallas, including his record-breaking 17th World Cup goal, to move ahead of Germany's Miroslav Klose on the tournament's all-time scoring list.

Scaloni praised his team's resilience after a match in which Austria's pressing disrupted Argentina's rhythm and forced the holders to endure long periods without possession.

"It was a difficult match and we knew it wouldn't be easy," he said. "We suffered in certain moments, but this team knows how to suffer together and get through those periods."

The coach said patience was key as Argentina searched for a breakthrough after an even opening period that included Messi's ninth-minute penalty miss.

"The team had done two or three good things before the penalty and scoring then would have changed the game," Scaloni said. "But we recovered well."

He said Messi's penalty miss had jolted the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner into action and prompted his teammates to follow.

"When Leo gets involved, everyone gets involved," Scaloni said. "Even when we were having a difficult spell without the ball, he worked to win it back. You can see his commitment."

Scaloni said Argentina adapted well when they were unable to impose their usual possession game.

"When you don't have the ball, you have to defend. There's no other way," he said. "If you can't play the way you want, you have to find solutions, and I think we did that."

Argentina's victory was tempered by concern over defender Cristian Romero, who was substituted in the 57th minute with an apparent knee injury.

"We don't know yet what will happen with Cuti Romero," Scaloni said. "We don't know if it's serious."

Argentina completes its group-stage campaign against Jordan on Saturday.