FIFA World Cup 2018: Argentina held by Iceland as Lionel Messi misses penalty

Sochi: Iceland held Jorge Sampaoli’s Argentina to 1-1 draw in the first encounter of Group B at the Spartak Stadium in Sochi on Saturday. Sergio Aguero opened the scoring with his first World Cup goal through a peach of a strike before Alfred Finnbogason drew level just five minutes later.

The second half was a drab one, as Iceland packed their defence allowing the South Americans to enjoy possession but left them frustrated in the final third with vital blocks and interception.

Lionel Messi had the change to put his side ahead after VAR awarded Meza a penalty but keeper Halldorson, a part-time film director turned the script around by pulling off a fine save. Sampaoli’s men squeezed to sneak in an equaliser but were left frustrated in the end.

Argentina will walk home dissatisfied with the result and the pressure in now on them to deliver against Croatia. Meanwhile, Iceland, the smallest nation ever to qualify for the tournament with look to maintaining the same momentum after taming one of the favourites.

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FULL TIME: Argentina (Sergio Aguero 19') 1 - 1 Iceland (Aaron Finnbogason 23')

90 + 5' ICELAND STAND TALL! Messi is brought down 25 yards outside the box. The last kick of the ball fires straight into the wall and the referee blows the final whistle.

90 + 3' WIDE! Messi is feeded the ball inside the box but he misses by a whisker again as he shoots with his weaker foot across the face of goal.

90 + 5' Five minutes added to the clock and Argentina are not done yet.

87' NEED MORE! Pavon swings a cross from the left which misses a leaping Higuain by inches. Mascherano from outside the box launches another effort by the Iceland custodian hands it safe.

83' FINAL SUB FOR ARGENTINA! Higuain is the man to take the field replacing winger Meza. This means they will now revert to 4-4-2 with Aguero and the Juventus striker leading the line.

81' MESSI ALMOST MAKES IT 2-1! Messi breaks on the counter with ample space before unleashing a fierce curler just inches wide.

79' Messi recieves a lofted ball into the box and just before he unleashes the trigger, Saevarsson makes a vital interception.

78' Argentina continue to attack with urgency as the Viking Claps echo as the Spartak stadium.

75' SUBSTITUTIONS! Angel Di Maria is taken out as Christian Pavon swaps in. Ari Skulason replaces tired Iceland skipper Gunnarson, who passes on the armband to Sigurdsson.

73' Meza is fouled towards the right side of goal, 28 yards out. Messi curls the effort over the wall! Can Sampaoli's men find a way through here?

70' Iceland continue to pack the defence but Argentina can't find the middle of the needle.

64' PENALTY SAVED! Are you kidding me? Messi curls one into the box as Meza is brought down by Magnusson. VAR confirms a penalty as the Barcelona forward steps up to take it. Messi strikes it hard towards the left but Halldorson punches it away to keep the game alive.

63' SUBSTITUTION! First change for Iceland as Gislason replaces Gundmundsson.

60' Banega's introuction has made the passing more fluid but the opponents are not budging one bit.

57' Messi playing a deep-lying playmaker's role beats three markers before the ball deflects and heads towards Aguero, whose shot is blocked immediately, giving a corner. The Man City frontman tries his luck again but fails to crack the code.

55' Iceland are pretty much happy to sit back and let the South Americans enjoy possession. Finding gaps is the major concern in a crowded half.

53' SUBSTITUTION! Sampaoli makes his first change as Ever Banega comes on for Lucas Biglia.

50' CLOSE! Bjarnason flicks in a dangerous cross from the left and it misses that man, Finnbogason by inches.

46' PEEP! Action gets underway again. No changes in personnel for either teams.

45' HALF-TIME: Argentina 1- Iceland 1

The first-half of the Group D World Cup match between Argentina and Iceland witnessed some entertaining football. Sergio Aguero opened the scoring in the 19^th minute for Argentina, only for the Icelanders to draw level four minutes later.

Iceland, playing in their first-ever World Cup, equalised through Finnbogason from close range.

Incidentally, Aguero netted his first goal in eight World Cup game, thereby ending the goalless streak in the global tournament.

It will be all to play for in the second half as the teams fight for the full three points, thereby taking an early advantage in the tournament.

45' Gylfi Sigurdsson has a couple of chances on goal, but just fails to find the net.

30' Half an hour gone, but anything can happen in this match now. The roar of the crowd have increased.

23' GOAL! Well, nobody saw that coming as Finnbogason has just equalised for Iceland! An epic comeback, this. It''s game on at 1-1!

19' GOAL! Kun Aguero gives the lead for Argentina, as he smashes off to one to behind the nets!

10' MISS! Bjarnasson just misses the net by an inch! This was the best chance for Iceland so far in the game!

1' The match is underway!

Lineups

The lineups have been announced for the Argentina-Iceland game.

Not much of surprises in the starting XI for both teams, as Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero start up front. Willy Caballero has been the preferred goalkeeper for the game.

Here are the confirmed starting XI:

Preview

After the late night Cristiano Ronaldo show on Friday, the focus now sshifts to Lionel Messi as Argentina take on World Cup debutants Iceland in the Group D game of the FIFA World Cup on Saturday.

Argentina has been all about Messi over the past few years, with the former champions reaching the final of the showpiece event in 2014, but falling short by just one goal to Germany.

This time, Messi will take the responsibilities with the likes of Sergio Aguero, Paolo Dybala among others in terms of the forward line, whereas the defence will be boosted with the likes of Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Rojo among others.

For Iceland, the marquee player will be Gylfi Sigurdsson, who scored four goals and got three assists in the past Premier League season.

Squads:

Argentina: Nahuel Guzman, Franco Armani, Wilfredo Caballero, Marco Acuna, Cristian Ansaldi, Federico Fazio, Javier Mascherano, Gabriel Mercado, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Rojo, Eduardo Salvio, Nicolas Tagliafico, Ever Banega, Lucas Biglia, Angel Di Maria, Giovani Lo Celso, Maxi Meza, Enzo Perez, Cristian Pavon, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala

Iceland: Hannes Þór Halldórsson, Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson, Frederik Schram, Kári Árnason, Ari Freyr Skúlason, Ragnar Sigurðsson, Hörður Björgvin Magnússon, Birkir Már Sævarsson, Sverrir Ingi Ingason, Hólmar Örn Eyjólfsson, Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson, Birkir Bjarnason, Arnór Ingvi Traustason, Emil Hallfreðsson, Gylfi Sigurðsson, Ólafur Ingi Skúlason, Rúrik Gíslason, Samúel Kári Friðjónsson, Aron Einar Gunnarsson, Alfreð Finnbogason, Jón Daði Böðvarsson, Björn Bergmann Sigurðarson, Albert Guðmundsson.

Live telecast:

With Sony Sports Network acquiring the broadcasting rights, the matches can be aired live on Sony Ten 2/HD and Sony Ten 3/HD.

Live streaming:

Live action can be streamed via the SonyLiv app or on SonyLiv.com.