Algeria — Austria

Kansas City witnessed something that will be talked about for a long time. Algeria 3–3 Austria at Arrowhead Stadium. Six goals, two 90th-minute strikes, and a scoreline that tells you almost everything except the truth. Here is the question to hold in your mind: how does the team that dominated this game walk away without a win? Because Algeria dominated. Thoroughly. 65 percent possession overall, rising to 71 in the second half. A 94 percent pass accuracy. An xG of 1.62 against Austria's 1.44 — the numbers confirm what the eye saw. And yet: three goals each. The scoreboard does not lie, even when the game did. Riyad Mahrez was the story of this match — a winger whose diagonal cuts and change of pace create problems full-backs simply cannot solve. He equalized at 60, then gave Algeria the lead deep in stoppage time. The man was electric, rating 8.74. But Algeria's weakness mirrored their strength: over-possession. With 71 percent of the ball in the second half, they still missed a big chance and failed to kill the game. Dominance without the killer instinct is just beautiful football going nowhere. Austria deserve enormous credit for sheer ruthlessness. Their xG was 1.44. Ten shots, three on target, two big chances — both converted. Arnautović opened the scoring at 28, collected a yellow at 11, and was hooked at half-time alongside two other starters — a triple substitution that showed Austria's coach had read the first half honestly. Sabitzer restored the lead at 55. Then Kalajdžić, on the pitch for under a minute after coming on in the 90th, equalized immediately. Extraordinary. Austria's weakness? They surrendered midfield entirely after the break, retreating deep and surviving on counter-punching. Against a more clinical side, that would have been punished far more severely. The xG said Algeria should win this. The scoreboard said otherwise. Both sides leave Kansas City with complicated feelings — and complicated group stage situations. On FootLegion, at least, the goals your nation scores are locked in forever. Now, over to you: was Mahrez the best individual performer of the group stage so far? And can Austria genuinely go deep at this World Cup playing 29 percent possession football?