CORNERFLICK
Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 in their opening Group J match at Kansas City, with Lionel Messi scoring a hat-trick after two early offside calls had already shaped the first half.
The holders started on the front foot and thought they had gone ahead in the fifth minute through Messi, only for the flag to go up. Algeria then had a goal ruled out for offside three minutes later.
Messi eventually made the breakthrough in the 17th minute, finishing after Rodrigo De Paul found him with a long pass just outside the Algeria box. Argentina kept control after the break and doubled their lead in the 60th minute, when Messi tucked in the rebound after Lucas Zidane had spilled a low shot from Alexis Mac Allister.
The captain completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, taking his tally to 16 goals in World Cup finals and moving level with Miroslav Klose at the top of the tournament's all-time scoring chart. Polish referee Szymon Marciniak took charge of the match.