World Cup: Argentina 1 Iceland 1 - 5 things you need to know
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Marcos Rojo (left) of Argentina and Rurik Gislason of Iceland in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Argentina and Iceland in Moscow, Russia, on June 16, 2018.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
1. THE GOALS
Argentina 1 (Sergio Aguero 19th) Iceland 1 (Alfred Finnbogason 23rd)
2. THE WOW MOMENT
Sergio Aguero's Exocet missile that nearly took the roof off the net. The Manchester City striker seemed to have been crowded out by several Iceland players, but a clever swivel bought him that bit of space to lash a blistering shot past goalkeeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson. It was the one moment of class that breached the Iceland defence, who were resolute throughout against opponents with World Cup pedigree behind them.
3. THE TALKING POINT
It has to be Lionel Messi's penalty miss in the 64th minute. The majority of Argentina's play flowed through their talisman, but he never really looked confident from the spot, with Halldorsson flinging himself the right way to save the spot-kick. Will coach Jorge Sampaoli now take Messi off penalty duties after his third miss for Argentina?
4. THE STAR
Iceland's starting XI. Man-to-man, they were excellent as Iceland packed the midfield, kept their shape and defended in numbers for 90 minutes. Not once did the smallest-ever nation to play at the World Cup look overawed by the occasion and they more than matched their more illustrious opponents, using their physicality to great effect, pressing high up the line and scrapping for every ball.
5. WHAT THE RESULT MEANS
A draw does Argentina no favours with Nigeria and Croatia - two harder opponents on paper than Iceland - to come. When the World Cup draw was made, Group D was said to be the closest thing to a group of death, and the Albiceleste may struggle to qualify for the knockout stages if Sampaoli continues to opt for a defensive line-up. Playing two defensive midfielders in Lucas Biglia and Javier Mascherano smacks of a safety-first approach, which does not play to Messi's strength. On this evidence, it is clear that Messi needs far more help from his supporting cast, with Maximiliano Meza and Angel di Maria anonymous.
If Giovani lo Celso, Cristian Pavon and Paulo Dybala are not in the frame for Argentina's next game against Croatia next Thursday (June 21), then so will Messi's dream of leading his country to their third World Cup.
As for Iceland, they can only hold their heads up high after scoring their first-ever World Cup goal and securing their first-ever point in the tournament, and having defied all expectations to get to Russia, Heimir Hallgrimsson's men have nothing to lose and everything to gain in their next two matches.
