June 20 (Reuters) - Defending champions ⁠Argentina can take a major step towards the knockout stage when they face Austria in ⁠their second World Cup Group J match on Monday, after both sides opened their campaigns with ‌convincing victories.

Lionel Messi inspired Argentina's title defence with a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria, drawing level with Germany's Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, while Austria beat Jordan 3-1 to set up a meeting between the group's ​two early leaders.

A victory would leave Argentina on the brink of ⁠the Round of 32 and could secure ⁠top spot in the group if Jordan fail to beat Algeria in the day's other Group J match.

Austria ⁠arrive ‌with ambitions of their own after an impressive opening performance under coach Ralf Rangnick and can also move into a commanding position in the group if they overcome Argentina and Algeria do not beat ⁠Jordan.

ALABA WARY OF MESSI THREAT

Much of the attention will again fall ​on 38-year-old Messi, whose clinical ‌display against Algeria reinforced Argentina's status as one of the favourites to retain the trophy, a ⁠threat Austria captain David ​Alaba acknowledged after watching his opener.

"We definitely watched their game before we left," the defender said after their opening win.