Lionel Messi missed a penalty as Argentina were held to 1-1 draw in their opening match of the World Cup 2018.
After Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in to earn Portugal a 3-3 draw with Spain on Friday, all eyes were on Lionel Messi to respond. However, the Argentine had a miserbale run against a determined Iceland side on Saturday.
Messi missed a penalty as Argentina were held to 1-1 draw in their opening match of the World Cup 2018.
Messi was presented with a chance to win the game from the spot in the 64th minute. But he put his effort too close to Hannes Halldorsson, who made an easy save.
Messi was given the ultimate opportunity after Hordur Bjorgvin Magnusson got entangled with Aguero in the box, only for Halldorsson to fly to his right and palm the penalty clear.
Earlier, Sergio Auguero fired Argentina in front after 19 minutes with a superb swivel and shot to record what was his first ever World Cup goal.
The lead lasted just four minutes though as sloppy defending allowed Iceland to work the ball to Alfred Finnbogason for a simple tap in. Argentina pressed for the winner in the second half, but in the end had to settle for a point.
Argentina, playing in all-black and roared on by the vast majority of the crowd in the Spartak Stadium, eventually took command and delivered wave after wave of attacks in the second half. But they actually created few chances either side of Messi's poorly-struck 64th-minute penalty.
Iceland, by far the smallest country by population to appear at the World Cup, famously beat England in the last 16 of Euro 2016 and again inspired by their "thunderclapping" fans ran tirelessly and fought for everything.
They signalled their intent from the kick off, sending seven men charging into the box to challenge as the ball was pumped long and it proved to be just the first of many uncomfortable moments for a decidedly shaky Argentine defence.
The South Americans looked more assured in attack, though, and went ahead when Aguero turned tightly in the box and smashed in an unstoppable shot.
Iceland, however, are not a team to sit back and sulk and soon forced an equaliser when goalkeeper Willy Caballero palmed Gylfi Sigurdsson's low shot straight into the path of Finnbogason to sweep into the unguarded net.
Iceland then defended superbly, almost fanatically, and will have real belief that they can get out of a group that also contains Croatia and Nigeria, who meet later on Saturday.
Argentina, on the other hand, will need to improve if they want even a shot to win the World Cup.
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