Lionel Messi has admitted that he was hurt by missing the penalty in Argentina’s draw with Iceland on Saturday. Messi stated that he was dissapointed and was bitter for not being able to beat Iceland and that his penalty miss changed the game.
The 30-year-old saw a spot-kick saved by Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson with the scores level in the 64th minute. It would prove costly as Iceland – the smallest nation ever to compete at a World Cup – held on to frustrate Argentina in their Group D opener.
“It would have changed the script. It was the advantage,” said Messi about his penalty. Obviously it hurts me to have missed the penalty. They would have opened a little more and we could have found more spaces. I feel responsible for not having been able to take the three points. I have no doubt that a goal from the penalty kick would have changed everything. We have the bitterness of not being able to take the three points that we deserved. To start with winning is always important, now we have to think about Croatia. We will try to pass this quickly.”