As the final whistle blew, Lionel Messi angrily volleyed the ball high into the Moscow air before kneeling down in the centre-circle to be consoled by a steady succession of team-mates. They must have secretly wished that he had struck his penalty with such venom.
Argentina looked and felt for all the world like losers and, while Messi’s 64th minute missed penalty provided just about the ultimate personal contrast to Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick in Sochi against Spain, he might at least find some consolation in his great rival’s story story at Euro 2016.
Portugal had also begun with a stodgy and frustrating 1-1 draw against an easily underestimated Iceland team but would ultimately still leave France victorious by the end of the tournament. It is a lesson that should at least provide some perspective amid the temptation to suggest that Ronaldo has already struck some of knockout blow in any personal World Cup duel with Messi, even if round one has belonged so emphatically to the Portuguese.
Time had almost stood still in Sochi on Friday as Ronaldo drew several deep breaths and settled himself before delivering the free-kick that completed both his hat-trick and further ignited this World Cup. As well as the tame penalty that was saved here by Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson, Messi also wasted a flurry of comparable late opportunities with free-kicks.
“It would have changed the script - obviously it hurts me to have missed the penalty,” said Messi. “We have the bitterness of not being able to take the three points that we deserved. They did not want to play but closed well.”
Even the presence of Diego Maradona excitedly urging his team on and sucking a cigar in one of the executive boxes directly in front of a sign reminding fans about the stadium smoking ban could not sufficiently inspire Argentina. It is early days but, with further tricky group matches to follow against Croatia and Nigeria, you have to wonder if the collective scars from a succession of international near misses are beginning to weigh heavily on this group.
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Argentina vs. Iceland: Live Updates, Score and Reaction from 2018 World Cup Game
Argentina (National Football) vs Iceland (National Football)
Moscow
Messi steps on the World Cup stage for Argentina in the Group D opener vs. Iceland. The Europeans surprised everyone in the 2016 Euros, but this is Messi's final chance at World Cup glory. Otkrytiye Arena in Moscow hosts.
Lionel Messi will once again launch a bid to translate his domestic success onto the international stage as Argentina kick off their World Cup campaign against Iceland on Saturday.
The Albiceleste side were runners up to Germany four years ago and only made it to Russia on the final day of qualifying after a shaky campaign in South America. Meanwhile, Iceland will be looking to put in another giant-killing performance as in Euro 2016, where they shook England to the core en route to the quarter-finals.
You can follow all the build-up from 12:30pm with live coverage coming after kick-off at 2:00pm.
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Iceland is showing that Euro 2016 was no fluke. On Saturday at the World Cup, Iceland held Lionel Messi and Argentina to just a goal, drawing the South Americans 1-1 in its debut game to open up Group D. Messi was knocking on the door throughout the entire match, but he missed a penalty kick in the second half. His teammates relied on him too much and Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson impressed with seven saves. Argentina dominated the ball with 78 percent of the possession and outshot Iceland 27-8, but the ball just wouldn't hit the back of the net for both sides during the final hour.
The South Americans started the match with positive vibes in the attack and woeful vibes at the back. And 13 minutes in, the breakthrough came via the left foot of Manchester City star Sergio Aguero:
El Kun!
Sergio Aguero creates something out of nothing to put Argentina ahead 1-0. pic.twitter.com/ZSYWIrMBm6 — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 16, 2018
But that lead was short-lived as Iceland responded four minutes later as Alfred Finnbogason finished a rebound from close:
Finnbogason scores Iceland's first-ever FIFA World Cup goal! 🇮🇸👏 pic.twitter.com/gnO14Ciu8n — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 16, 2018
Then, with 25 minutes to go, Maxi Meza was taken down in the box and a penalty kick was given. Messi stepped up, but Halldorsson made a massive save to keep the draw:
Messi's penalty is SAVED!
Halldorsson comes up big to keep Iceland level with 25 minutes left. pic.twitter.com/OpLTEgyoRA — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 16, 2018
Both teams now have a point in the group, but it feels like a win for Iceland. They held on, fought hard defensively and did enough to deserve a draw. Argentina, meanwhile, will feel like it deserved more as the pressure mounts on Jorge Sampaoli after just 90 minutes.
Relive commentary from Saturday's Argentina vs. Iceland match
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