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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 showed no signs of tiring and kept up the relentless defensive pressure. Seldom threatening to take the lead itself, Iceland also shut down Argentina’s efforts to win the game.
A final free kick by Messi in the 95th minute appropriately sailed into a wall thick with Iceland players.
Neither team was crippled by the result, but they will come out with far different memories. For Iceland, the humbling of a soccer superpower. For Argentina, a missed opportunity.
95’: Messi Stopped One More Time, We Have a Draw!
Free kick awarded from 40 yards. Is there still a twist in the game? Messi ... it hits the wall. Game over!
Matthew Futterman: At the end of the match, Iceland walks over to the corner of the stadium where its jubilant fans are celebrating like they’ve won. Argentina’s players wandered off with their hands on their hips, heads down. Only at the World Cup do two teams each score a goal and come away with a point and one team celebrates and the other acts as though there has been a death in the family. And obviously Iceland becomes the smallest country ever to get a point at the World Cup.
93’: Argentina Running Out of Time
A last throw of the dice for Messi sailed over the net. Frustration for Argentina. Iceland booted the ball far up the field.
90’: Five More Minutes
Five minutes of added time. That’s five minutes of hope for Argentina.
88’: Argentina Trying Everything
Pavon tried a curler, which drew a diving save. Then Mascherano’s long-range effort drew a save. Argentina throwing everything at Iceland now. Iceland made a sub and both players take their time on the swap.
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85’: Last-Minute Reinforcements
Argentina brings in Gonzalo Higuain of Juventus for Meza in hopes of some offensive magic in the dying minutes.
82’: Can Iceland Hold On for a Draw?
Messi shot from distance, but it went wide by a foot. Can Iceland hang on for 10 more minutes? They certainly don’t look like winning, but a draw would be a first-rate result for them.
80’: Argentina Keeps Pressure On
Messi controlled a ball right by the net with an athletic leap, but before he could fire, Saevarsson jumped in and cleared. A well-deserved congratulation from the keeper for that play.
78’: No Penalty, No V.A.R.
A big penalty appeal from Pavon, but it’s denied. In truth, the penalty that was called, for Aguero, was marginal.
75’: Messi Stopped ... Again
Messi over a free kick outside the box ... it went into the wall of four Icelanders.
Iceland is playing nine in the box right now, with only Finnbogason a lonely figure further up the field.
Matthew Futterman: It is impossible to read Messi’s mind, but even before the missed penalty, from up close he has seemed a bit low-energy on the day, as though he might rather be on a beach in Ibiza rather than carrying the load of the nation on his shoulders. Remember, he did want to stop playing for the national team two years ago and had to be coaxed out of retirement. Then he got Argentina to Russia on the last day of qualifying with a hat trick. Iceland has maintained a tight circle around him all afternoon, keeping four burly defenders and midfielders within a few yards of him for most of the game. That can’t be a fun way to spend a match ... Now watch him score two goals in the final 12 minutes to win it.
72’: Messi Stopped Again
Messi finally got the space to go on one of his runs, which led to a series of passes, which finished on the feet of Banega. But his shot is saved.
69’: Argentina Coming On Strong
Argentina continues to pour it on, and you’d still think they could score in the last 20 minutes. Iceland’s stubborn defense, and keeper Halldorsson share the man of the match award so far.
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64’: Huge Save for Iceland!
Penalty to Argentina! Messi to take ... Saved by Halldorsson. Incredible!
Aguero hit the turf in the penalty area after a collision with Magnusson. The penalty was called, But Messi’s shot was down the middle and Haldorsson was able to save the day for Iceland.
60’: Iceland’s Defense Strong
Messi found Banega at the half moon, and he got off a decent shot. But Ragnar Sigurdsson threw his body in front of the ball. That’s the kind of consistent defensive commitment that Iceland has shown.
55’: Maradona Is Here
Another candidate for soccer G.O.A.T., Maradona, is picked out by the cameras. He looks somewhat unimpressed.
49’: Big Miss By Argentina
Nicolas Otamendi misfired off a Dii Maria corner and howled in disappointment. Iceland is keeping nearly its whole team behind the ball.
Matthew Futterman: A note on the crowd here at Spartak Stadium, where seating capacity is 45,000. Argentina has travelled in a major way. Iceland has taken over one corner of the stands, from the pitch to the top row. And then there is another clump two sections over in either direction. Other than that it’s a sea of blue and white striped jerseys here, almost like it was in Brazil, when much of the country could drive to Argentina matches. No shame on Iceland — they only have 340,000 people total, so there are only so many who could make the journey.
46’: Second Half Kicks Off
Still trying to solve Argentina’s defensive problems here. Perhaps the defensive midfielders need to track back more? Perhaps Argentina doesn’t really need the New York Times’s help?
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Halftime
Argentina have dominated and are still comfortably favored for the win. But the shaky defense could still give up a goal .. and could bring serious trouble against better opponents.
46’: Nearly a Goal, But by Iceland!
They hoofed the ball up, Sigurdsson was unmarked and forced the diving save from Caballero. Defense is definitely the weakness of Argentina so far. Though Iceland seldom get the ball into the box, when they do the disorganization of Argentina is clear. And that’s halftime.
42’: Iceland Tries to Draw Penalty
A good little cross by Meza found Biglia by the net. He went down, appealed for the penalty and got a “No dice” from the ref. Still all Argentina.
37’: Argentina Still in Control, But Few Shots
Argentina controlled the ball in the Iceland end for seemingly endless minutes. But it didn’t even really get a good shot off. Iceland defenders closed down every player, paying special attention to Messi, often using two or three defenders and putting a hand on him. It’s effective, but with the ball always near the Iceland goal, any error could bring disaster.
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33’: Argentina Controlling Ball
Argentina dominating possession. As the team moved the ball toward dangerous territory, Lucas Biglia perhaps got antsy and tried a shot from way out. It sailed over the net.
Matthew Futterman: A fascinating moment in the 29th minute when Iceland had a throw-in in front of Argentina’s bench. Iceland captain Aron Gunnarsson grabbed the ball and with his tattooed right arm waved all but one of his players ahead, as if to say, “boys, we are only going to be this deep so many times today. We have to take our shots.” Gunnarsson then launched his throw a good 30 yards to the top of the penalty area, a heave by any measure. If Iceland ever gets a throw deep in Argentina’s end, it will essentially be corner kick.
24’: GOAL! Iceland Answers!
Argentina had much more trouble than it should clearing the ball, and it zipped around the box dangerously. Alfred Finnbogason poached it just outside the keeper’s area and had a fairly easy finish. Poor defending by Argentina.
23’: A World Cup First for Aguero
Aguero has scored 37 times for Argentina, but never before in a World Cup game.
19’: GOAL Argentina! 1-0
It’s Sergio Aguero, who picked up the ball in the box, freed himself and fired, looking almost off-balance as he did so. Right in the net. That’s what Argentina needs to do about six more times in this tournament.
18’: Messi With a Great Chance
Messi was isolated with only Hallfredsson guarding him. He paused casually, beat his defender in a step and fired from just outside the box. Wide.
Matthew Futterman: For some reason FIFA has give the media some of the best seats in the house here at Spartak Stadium. I’m sitting just above the Argentina bench. If Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli didn’t have to manage the match and would turn around, we could have a chat without event raising our voices. This does not often happen at major international sporting events. I can tell you that Sampaoli up close looks like he is expecting some terrible new from a doctor. He’s barely stopped pacing the sidelines since the opening whistle. He keeps grabbing his face. He looks like he might cry. With good reason, perhaps given how close Iceland came to taking a lead in the early minute. Meanwhile, Iceland Coach Heimir Hallgrimson — I’d have to raise my voice to talk to him, but not scream — has been stoic and mostly stationary. Arms crossed. He may be contemplating some upcoming dental surgery. It’s a fascinating contrast.
13’: Argentina Controlling Posession
First corner to Argentina. Di Maria hesitated over it, then sent it right to Iceland. Argentina controlling possession, and Di Maria tried a very speculative shot. Not close.
10’: Missed Chance for Iceland
A sloppy pass in Argentina’s box leaves Sigurdsson inches away from poking it in. Bjarnason then latches on to it and shoots it just wide. Nearly a terrible error for Argentina.
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9’: Another Chance for Messi
Free kick to Messi again. It races through the box and Tagliafico gets a head to it, but it goes wide.
5’: Free Kick for Messi
It’s from 40 yards plus, but still. Free kick for Messi! He ships it into the box where it rolls free, worryingly for Iceland, but is eventually cleared.
3’: Caballero Starts for Argentina (Not for Chelsea)
Between the sticks for Argentina is Willy Caballero, who sits on the bench for Chelsea. But here he’s starting for a World Cup contender. (Chelsea’s starter, Thibaut Courtois, is the starter for Belgium here.)
Photo
1’: Kickoff in Moscow!
Argentina is in black and Iceland in white. A first ever World Cup for tiny Iceland. And is this the start of (finally) Messi’s World Cup? Or will it be another disappointment?
Argentina vs. Iceland Top Story Lines
• Iceland Lineup
2 Sevarsson
14 Arnason
6 R Sigurdsson
18 Magnusson
7 Berg Gudmundsson
17 Gunnarsson
20 Hallfredsson
8 Bjarnason
10 G Sigurdsson
11 Finnbogason
Argentina Lineup
23 Caballero
18 Salvio
17 Otamendi
16 Rojo
3 Tagliafico
13 Meza
5 Biglia
14 Mascherano
11 Di María
10 Messi
19 Aguero
• Heimir Hallgrimsson is a laid-back leader and sometime dentist who sees success for Iceland’s national team as a continuing journey unconnected to its 2018 World Cup finish.
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• The greatest player in the world (sorry, Ronaldo fans) is Lionel Messi. But the naysayers who love Pele and Maradona still like to point out that he needs a World Cup to claim G.O.A.T. status. He is 30 years old now, and this may be his last chance to play in the big event in his prime.
• Messi has plenty of talented company, including Sergio Aguero, the Manchester City striker who loves to score, Paulo Dybala and Angel di Maria. So the talent to lift the Cup is there, but can it mesh together? Argentina placed only third in South American qualifying, with a 7-4-7 record.
• Iceland, population 350,000, is the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup. But it proved in the European Championship two years ago that it could play with the top sides, defeating England in the round of 16. The result was hardly a fluke, as Iceland followed it by finishing ahead of Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey in its World Cup qualifying group.
• European teams have taken notice of Iceland’s skills and its players have taken up residence at top clubs in England, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey and Russia.
• In a statement that may come back to haunt him, midfielder Johann Berg Gudmundsson of Iceland said, “We kept Ronaldo quite quiet, so hopefully we can do the same against Messi.”
Argentina were left to rue a missed Lionel Messi penalty and a decision not to award them a second penalty, despite the use of VAR at this year's World Cup, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Iceland in Moscow.
Messi was presented with a chance break Iceland's brave resistance from the spot in the 64th minute after Hordur Magnusson collided with Maximiliano Meza in the box, but he put his effort too close to Hannes Halldorsson, who made an easy save.
Shortly afterwards, substitute Cristian Pavon looked like he had been brought down in the area by Birkir Saevarsson, but the referee waved away the Argentine protests.
Replays appeared to show a foul by the Iceland right-back, but the Video Assistant Referee decided against overturning the decision. Just a few hours after France had been awarded a penalty after a video review in their win over Australia, Argentina may have reason to feel hard done by.
On they pressed for a winner, but Iceland's tiring players kept them at bay, ensuring Argentina failed to win their opening match at a World Cup for the first time since 1990.
