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Updated June 18th, 2018 at 14:18 IST

WORLD CUP 2018: Argentina vs Iceland, Match 6, LIVE

Argentina is set to kick of their World Cup 2018 campaign with a fixture against Iceland

Reported by: Narayan R
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Argentina have been stunningly held to a 1-1 draw by Iceland. And who would say that Iceland don't deserve this. They fought hard, and didn't let their opponents create many chances. And with a missed penalty from Messi, they achieved the improbable.

Argentina had taken the lead early in the first half, with Aguero scoring his first ever goal in World Cup. But within few minutes, Iceland equalized, after a mistake by Caballero allowed Finnbogason to tap in an empty net.

In the second half, both the team had their chances, but some good goalkeeping meant neither team scored. While it is a memorable point for Iceland, Argentina will see it as two points dropped.
 

FULL TIME: Argentina 1-1 Iceland
 

90' + 5': Free kick for Argentina. Just 20 yards out. It may be their final opportunity to salvage a victory. Messi over it. And he again hits it in the wall.
 

90' + 2': CLOSE! Messi has an effort from his right foot, but it's wide. The Argentine skipper seems frustrated and disgruntled with himself.
 

90': Five minutes added on. Just five more minutes to hold for Iceland.
 

89': Iceland's hero and goalscorer Finnbogason makes way for Sigurdarson. 
 

87': GREAT SAVE! Pavon swings in a delivery into the box, but its missed by everyone. It looks certain to head into the back post, but Halldorsson makes a stupendous save.
 

84': Higuain is all ready to come, waiting on the sidelines. And he arrives. Making way for him is Meza.
 

81': INCHES WIDE! Messi again has an effort from 25 yards out, but it's millimeters away from the goalpost.
 

78': Chance for Messi, but again brilliant defending. A long ball finds the Argentine skipper in the area. He brings the ball down beautifully, but as he was about to unleash, Saevarsson came up with the intervention.
 

77': CONTROVERSY AGAIN! Pavon is tripped inside the penalty area by Magnusson, but the referee gives nothing. He goes upto the Argentine and warns him instead.
 

75': Iceland reply by their substitution. Skipper Gunnarssson is taken off for Skulason.
 

74': Argentina make their second change. Pavon comes in for ineffective di Maria.
 

73': Again it's a poor effort from the Argentine skipper, as his shot is straight at the wall.
 

72': Another free kick for Argentina 25 from yards out. And again it's Messi over the ball.
 

71': Banega has an effort from 25 yards out, but its straight at the keeper. Argentina are now looking desperate.
 

67': Now Iceland at the attack. Siggurdson gets free on the left, and tries to whip in a cross, but its deflected out for a corner.
 

66': Messi tries to make amends, but is hauled by the Iceland defense. He gets a free kick 30 yards out. Good effort, but it's just over!
 

64': AND IT'S SAVED! What a save from the goalkeeper. Messi goes to his left, and the keeper guesses it correctly. The score is still level.
 

63': PENALTY! Messi plays a beautiful chipped ball in the box, where Meza is tripped by Magnusson.
 

61': Gudmundsson is down for Iceland, and it doesn't look good for the winger. Much needed break for Iceland with pressure coming from Argentina. 
 

56': Messi weaves his way past a couple of defenders, but the ball bounces and reaches Aguero. He tries to lose the attention of the defenders and get a shot, but the effort is blocked away for a corner.
 

54': Ever Banega has come in for Argentina. Biglia is the one to leave the proceedings.
 

50': Corner for Iceland! Again Argentina fail to clear the ball, and Siggurdson weaves his way past a defender. He tries to put in a low cross, but its blocked for corner.
 

We are back underway!
 

A good half of football for the viewers. Argentina were the dominating side, but Iceland showed how good they can be using the long ball. The 2014 finalists took the lead through a stunning strike from Aguero.

But the lead did not last long, as Finnbogason equalized moments after a mistake from Caballero. There was controversy at th end of the half, as Argentina were denied a penalty despite ball hitting the hand of Iceland defender.
 

HALF TIME: Argentina 1-1 Iceland
 

45': GOOD SAVE! A long ball is played by Iceland, and it is brought down by Finnbogason. He passes it to Gylfi, who dazzles past a defender, and brings out a good save from Caballero.
 

44': Till now, Argentina have attempted 333 passes, compared to 70 by Iceland. Yet, the scoreline is equal.
 

42': CONTROVERSY! Meza gets down the right, and tries to cut the ball back. But it is blocked by Sigurdsson and goes for a corner. The ball had hit the defenders hand, and Argentina players are furious at the referee for not using VAR.
 

36': The game has settled down after those two quickfire goals. Argentina are dominating possession, hoping to pass their way past the Iceland defense.
 

33': Good build up play by Argentina allows Biglia the space to have a go. And his shot wasn't much far away from the goal.
 

28': Corner for Argentina, swung in by Di Maria. Otamendi gets a head to it, but his weak header is easily collected by Halldorrson.
 

23': GOAL! Iceland have equalized. The ball is rolling around in the Argentina penalty box, and reaches Sigurdsson. He puts a cross in the box, which is badly dealt by the Caballero, and the ball falls to Finnbogason. The striker calmly slots the ball in the net.
 

21': Argentina seem to be in the mood now! Messi steals the ball in the midfield, and unleashes an effort from 25 yards out. It is well saved by Halldorrson.
 

19': GOAL! What a strike from Aguero! Rojo is afforded space to move ahead, and he takes an effort from range, which lands to the feet of Aguero. He takes two touches, and with just an inch of a space, blasts a left foot shot in the net.
 

17': GOOD SAVE! Finally Messi gets one on one with a defender, and gets half a yard on his left foot. He unleashes a strike, but it is well kept out by the keeper.
 

11': Corner for Argentina after Di Maria's cut-back is defended well by Iceland.
 

10': WHAT A CHANCE FOR ICELAND! Argentina are their own enemies, as they lose the ball near their own penalty area. It reaches to Bjarnason. With the goal at his mercy, he somehow places it wide.
 

8': CLOSE! A set piece from the right is swung in by Messi, and Tagliafico gets a head to it. But it's just wide.
 

7': Messi isn't being afforded any space by the Iceland midfielders. Till now, whenever he has received the ball, and Iceland player has shadowed him.
 

4': Free kick on the left side, just ahead of the halfway line for Argentina. Messi looks set to put the ball into the box. A brilliant delivery from the Argentina skipper,  but Otamendi can't divert the ball into the net.
 

2': Argentina have the early possession, as they stroke the ball from one side to another. 
 

KICK OFF!
 

Less than 10 minutes to go for the big encounter.
 

Here are the starting XI of both the teams.
 


Argentina is set to kick of their World Cup 2018 campaign with a fixture against Iceland. The Lionel Messi-led side are aiming to move on from their 2014 disappointment, where they lost in the finals. Will that happen, we'll have to find out! 


So this is it! The World Cup is back after four long years. This edition is being played in Russia. The tournament commences on June 14, and will conclude on July 15. Hosts Russia will play the first match against Saudi Arabia.
 

Defending champions Germany are on of the favorites to retain their crown, though, they will face stiff competition from 2010 champions Spain, 1998 winners France and five-time champions Brazil. While these three teams are expected to win, the likes of Argentina, Portugal and England are the outsiders to take home the trophy.


While these are the teams expected to win the trophy, there are three 'black horses' for the tournament.
 

1. Belgium: There is a very strong reason to consider Belgium as favorites, but it's way too early for that. The team managed by Roberto Martinez has many outstanding players like Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois and Kevin de Bruyne. The quality in their midfield is second to none. Yet, they are no Spain or Germany. The growth of Belgium has begun only in recent time, and its fair to say not many within the team would actually believe they go till the end. Though, it won't be wrong to say given the quality they have, a surprise is very possible.
 

2. Croatia: They are arguably in the Group of Death, yet, the Croatian team will feel extremely confident of passing the group stage comfortably. That is a very minimum which the team should dream of, given they have the likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic. The quality in their midfield is particulary good, and that might make them dream of winning the trophy. But in all honesty, that is improbable.
 

3. Uruguay: They were the dark horses back in 2010, they are the dark horses in 2018 as well. There is no denying the quality they possess. Well, not many teams can say they have two world class defenders in Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez, and two strikers in Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. Yet, beyond these four players, there isn't much quality. The good thing for Uruguay though is the fact they can claim to have the easiest group, with Russia, Saudi Arabia and Egypt as their opponents. A qualification from group stages should be all but confirmed, and with the four world class players, you can put a cent on them doing the unthinkable.
 

A couple of teams have suffered off the field issues ahead of the extravaganza. Spain saw a change in their head coach, as Fernando Hierro took over from Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked on Wednesday following his decision to sign a contract with Real Madrid on Tuesday.
 

Germany also have been hit by an issue to couple of their players. Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan have been caught in controversy following their decision to take a picture with the Turkish President earlier this May.


It sparked outrage within their country, with a section of fans booing Gundogan and Ozil during Germany's friendlies against Austria and Saudi Arabia. Their manager, Joachim Low though, came out in their support, and criticized the fans for their reaction towards their players.

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Published June 16th, 2018 at 20:29 IST

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