INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Earlier in the first half, Argentina had the majority of ball in the first half as Iceland did their defensive duties well
Argentina took the lead courtesy a thunderous strike by Sergio Aguero in the 19th minute
It only took four minutes for Iceland to equalise
Number 11 Alfred Finnbogason made the most of some chaotic defending by Argentina and scored the goal in the 23rd minute
Lionel Messi and Meza got close for Argentina but Iceland kept them under check
Iceland were happy to give Argentina the ball possession in the first half given they didn't concede
Argentina play Croatia on June 21 while Iceland take on Nigeria the next day on June 22.20:25 IST: And its over
Superb defensive display by Iceland have earned them a vital point
Argentina lacked that killer touch and hence failed to get that winning goal.20:23 IST: Argentina's number 10 Messi's tenth attempt on the
Can Messi win it for Argentina
That was the last kick and Iceland have held Argentina.20:21 IST: Messi has had 9 attempts on goal but no goal
He even missed a penalty.20:19 IST: Ninety minutes up
Diego Maradona is on the stands and he appears animated seeing Argentina fluff their lines.20:17 IST: Substitution! Iceland goal scorer
Finnbogason departs amid a thunderous applause by the crowd.20:16 IST: WHAT A SAVE! Fantastic save by the Iceland
keeper Halldorsson. Argentina's number 22 Pavon struck it well.20:14 IST: Kudos to this Iceland team for keeping out this Argentina team
Their defending has been top notch
Final 4 minutes to go.20:11 IST: Just wide for Messi
It is simply not his day today
Argentina have more than 75 per cent of the ball throughout the first 80 minutes | Argentina 1-1 Iceland after 82 minutes20:10 IST: Final
Argentina are trying to hard
Credit to Iceland defenders for keeping Argentina at bay.20:00 IST: Iceland are pegged back onto their own half by Argentina
Messi's missed penalty have spurred the Argentinians
However, they are struggling to stitch passes and trouble the opposition. | Argentina 1-1 Iceland after 73 minutes19:55 IST: Free kick
Messi steps up but it is way too above the keeper to trouble the Iceland team.19:52 IST: PENALTY and its missed. Argentina's Messi
brought down in the 62nd minute
Clear contact on Aguero by Magnusson
He is denied from the spot by Halldorsson.19:48 IST: Ever Banega tries his luck from distance but is blocked by the Iceland
defender.19:45 IST: Argentina make their first substitution
Ever Banega replaces Lucas Biglia | Argentina 1-1 Iceland after 54 minutes19:40 IST: Argentina players are finding it difficult to breach
the Iceland defence 19:37 IST: Argentina defender Otamendi parries it over the Iceland goal
No changes in both the line ups | Argentina 1-1 Iceland after 48 minutes19:35 IST: Second half begins.19:17 IST: FIRST HALF Ends! Argentina
1-1 IcelandThe first 25 minutes were pure entertainment for neutral fans as both teams kept on attacking each other
After Iceland's equalising goal, Argentina had the major possession but the former kept their defensive line intact
Iceland had their chances in the final minutes of the first half but Argentina defenders kept them at bay.19:14 IST: Forty five minutes up
Iceland turned it on in the closing minutes of the first half.19:10 IST: Argentina have the ball but Iceland are defending well in
numbers.19:08 IST: Iceland's number 11 Finnbogason is making life uncomfortable for Argentina's Otamendi
Till now Argentina have 77 per cent possession while Iceland have 23 per cent
A prolonged spell of Argentinian possession is seen at the moment. Argentina 1-1 Iceland after 37 minutes19:05 IST: Argentine's Biglia
tries his luck but its over the crossbar.19:01 IST: This match has opened up after the Iceland equaliser.18:55 IST: GOAL! Alfred
Finnbogason gets Iceland on level terms. Sigurdsson kept it alive in the six-yard box and Finnbogason coolly finished it
Superb finishing by him | Argentina 1-1 Iceland after 23 minutes18:52 IST: After that goal, Argentina are swarming all over Iceland at
They have the momentum now.18:51 IST: GOAL! What a shot
One touch and Aguero pummels the ball at the back of the net
What a way to open the scoring
This is Ageuro's first FIFA World Cup goal | Argentina 1-0 Iceland after 19 minutes18:49 IST: CHANCE for Argentina! Messi curls it and
Iceland goal keeper Halldorsson pounds it out towards safety in the 17th minute
A powerful shot by the Argentine captain.18:48 IST: Some fiesty play between the two teams
Di Maria and Messi linking up well but the final third is evading them | Argentina 0-0 Iceland after 16 minutes18:44 IST: A good opening 15
minutes for Argentina and Iceland
Both teams had their fair share of chances.18:40 IST: Error by the Argentine keeper and Bjarnason spurned his chance to give Iceland the
lead | Argentina 0-0 Iceland after 8 minutes18:38 IST: Just wide
Messi hits a shot and it gets blocked
On the other end of the pitch, Iceland break away and Finnbogason misses it. 18:32 IST: Argentina get their first free kick
Lionel Messi steps up to take it
Messi whips it in, couple of deflections but Iceland keeper can heave a sigh of relief
| Argentina 0-0 Iceland after 5 minutes18:30 IST: Kick off18:25 IST: The players have assembled in the tunnel area and they look prepared
The national anthems being played now.18:19 IST: We are now moments away from the kick off.18:12 IST: Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi and
Sergio Aguero will lead Argentina's attack against Iceland
Now that's a deadly trio.18:01 IST: Both Argentina, Iceland look to begin their tournament with a victory.17:41 IST: The first match of the
day saw France beat Australia 2-1 in their Group C encounter.17:40 IST: Hello and welcome to the live match updates of the match between
Argentina and Iceland."Iceland showed they could compete with anyone at the last Euros," said Messi, referring to their giant-killing run at
the 2016 European Championship in France
Messi was devastated by Argentina's loss to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final, with the agony compounded by back-to-back Copa America
defeats to Chile in 2015 and 2016.Despite his achievements with Barcelona, the five-time world player of the year is yet to win a major
international tournament and time is running out as his 31st birthday looms.Argentina only made it to the finals courtesy of a Messi
hat-trick in their final qualifier against Ecuador.Subsequent friendlies have given cause for concern -- there was a 4-2 loss to Nigeria in
November and a 6-1 humiliation by Spain in March, although Messi did not play in either match.Argentina's final warm-up against Israel in
Jerusalem was cancelled after protests from Palestinians, miring the team in controversy and leaving players short of match practice.To
further compound their problems, goalkeeper Sergio Romero and midfielder Manuel Lanzini both fell victim to late injuries.Accusing Argentina
of over-reliance on Messi may seem unfair to a team boasting the sharp attacking talents of Sergio Aguero, Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain
but it is a view coach Jorge Sampaoli himself has expressed.
