Iceland will become the smallest nation to compete in a World Cup finals when they meet Argentina in Moscow today. Lionel Messi and his Argentina team-mates will kick off their World Cup campaign against Iceland at 2pm BST.
Iceland are competing in a World Cup for the first time having finished above fellow Group D rival Croatia during the qualification period. This game can be crucial as all eyes would be on underdog Iceland and of course Messi.
Overview
Despite his success with Barcelona, Messi still has not won a major honour with Argentina. The forward turns 31 on 24 June so this could be his last chance to add the game’s biggest prize to his glittering list of achievements.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has even hinted he could retire from international football after the tournament, saying last week that “it will depend on how far we go”.
After scoring seven of Argentina’s 19 goals in qualifying, including a hat-trick to clinch their place in Russia, the Barca forward remains pivotal to the Albiceleste’s hopes of winning the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
Without him they were beaten 6-1 in a friendly against Spain in March and they have only played once since, beating Haiti 4-0, with Messi scoring another treble.
Iceland’s passage to Russia followed a famous Euro 2016 campaign, where they humiliated England on the way to the quarter-finals.
Despite their success in France, though, manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has called this “the biggest game in the history of Icelandic football”.
He added:”Regarding Messi, I don’t have a magic formula. Everybody has tried everything against him and he always manages to score.
Head to head
This will be the first ever encounter between Argentina and Iceland.
Argentina have lost just one of their last seven World Cup group games against European opposition (won four, drew two). That defeat came at the hands of England in 2002.
Argentina have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four World Cup clashes against European teams, although they’ve failed to net in the last two as well, including the 2014 final against Germany.
About Iceland :
- Iceland have qualified for their first World Cup and their second major tournament after Euro 2016 where they reached the quarter-finals. Slovakia were the last World Cup debutants to make it to the knockout stages of the tournament (2010).
- At 334,000 inhabitants when they qualified, Iceland are the smallest ever nation to reach the World Cup finals.
- Gylfi Sigurdsson was top scorer (four goals) and joint-top appearance maker (10 games) for Iceland in the qualifiers for Russia 2018.
- This is Heimir Hallgrímsson’s second major tournament as manager after Euro 2016 where he was joint-manager alongside Lars Lagerbäck. He took sole control after Euro 2016.
About Argentina :
- Argentina have qualified for their 17th World Cup – and 12th in a row. In fact, since 1978, only Germany (five) have reached the World Cup final on more occasions than Argentina (four).
- Argentina have gone past the group stage in 11 of their last 12 World Cup appearances, the only exception coming in 2002. In fact, they have won 12 of their last 15 group games (drew two, lost one), their only defeat coming against England in 2002.
- Argentina have also topped their group in each of the last three World Cups. They have also won their opening game in each of the last six editions.
Predictions
Football experts at BBC Predicts : Iceland were arguably the team of the tournament at Euro 2016. Now they are up against Lionel Messi and it will be fascinating to see how they get on. Argentina have some issues defensively but, at the other end of the pitch, they have got plenty of players who can potentially win them the game, no matter how well Iceland defend. Prediction: Argentine 2-0 Iceland.
Iceland Vs Argentina ( Comparison and History)
Probable Lineups
Argentina’s predicted lineup vs Iceland
Iceland’s predicted lineup vs Argentina
Full Squads
Argentina:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Manchester United), Wilfredo Caballero (Chelsea), Franco Armani (River Plate).
Defenders: Gabriel Mercado (Sevilla), Cristian Ansaldi (Torino), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Federico Fazio (Roma), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax), Marcos Acuna (Sporting Lisbon).
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Hebei China Fortune), Eduardo Salvio (Benfica), Lucas Biglia (AC Milan), Giovani Lo Celso (Paris Saint-Germain), Ever Banega (Sevilla), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham), Maximiliano Meza (Independiente), Angel di Maria (Paris Saint-Germain), Cristian Pavon (Boca Juniors).
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City).
Iceland:
Goalkeepers: Hannes Halldorsson (Randers), Runar Runarsson (Nordsjaelland), Frederik Schram (Roskilde)
Defenders: Kari Arnason (Aberdeen), Holmar Eyjolfsson (Levski Sofia), Rurik Gislason (Sandhausen), Sverrir Ingason (Rostov), Hordur Magnusson (Bristol City), Birkir Saevarsson (Valur), Ragnar Sigurdsson (Rostov), Ari Skulason (Lokeren)
Midfielders: Birkir Bjarnason (Aston Villa), Samuel Fridjonsson (Valerenga), Johann Gudmundsson (Burnley), Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City), Emil Hallfredsson (Udinese), Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton), Olafur Skulason (Karabukspor), Arnor Traustason (Malmo)
Forwards: Jon Bodvarsson (Reading), Alfred Finnbogason (Augsburg), Albert Gudmundsson (PSV), Bjorn Sigurdarson (Rostov)