LIVE
Sat, 16 June 2018
World Cup: Iceland hold Argentina 1-1 to take home a point
Timeline Refresh
20:27 Messi misses penalty
Iceland do the unthinkable, they hold Argentina 1-1.
Messi's failure to convert the penalty made a big difference eventually.
Messi is getting no space to play whatsoever, when the ball is in his periphery there is also a defender there.
84th minute change for Argentina as Higuain comes in for Meza.
Higuain tries to make a difference here.
A good build-up amounts to nothing as Argemtina fighting to find the winner here.
Finnbogason now comes off and is replaced by Sigursdason.
Five minutes of added time can be entertaining here.
Messi again skies one wide off the post even as he gets close.
He has had 9 attempts on goal and has converted none.
Messi wins a free kick after being brought down by a challenge.
He is going to take another free-kick, his 10th attempt at goal and he can't penetrate the goal.
Argentina playing deep in the opposition half but the Icelandic defence are up to the task.
In the 75th minute Di Maria comes out and in comes Pavon for Argentina.
Iceland also make a couple of changes.
66th minute, Messi is brought down after he is armed and that is a free-kick to Messi.
He skies that over the post.
Argentina feeling the heat now as Iceland get a corner, only a wasted effort that.
19:54 Iceland and Argentina still locked at 1-1
63rd minute and Messi awarded a penalty after being brought down in the box.
Messi steps up to take the penalty and he is denied by the Icelandic keeper!
Third penalty he's missed in national colours.
The second half kicks offs and we have another exciting 45 minutes in store.
In the 54th minute Ever Banega comes in for Biglia.
The Icelanders are marking their men well here, giving them no chance to find even a shot on goal.
19:19 Iceland score historic first World Cup goal
One minute added time.
At half-time, Iceland have done well to come back into the game and go into the break 1-1 with Argentina.
Argentina have been caught napping a couple of times at the back and they will need to work on it.
40th minute and Messi takes a corner but to no effect.
Another corner for Argentina, Mezo takes it and it's been cleared.
Icleand give Argentina 2 scares in the 45th but thankfully no damage done. Argentina 'walking on thin ice' here.
19:07 Arg enjoy max possession
After 35 minutes of action, it is still Argentina who enjoy major possession but are unable to find the final touches.
The game is caught up in the Argentine midfield.
Now there is an Argentine corner, Otamendi takes the header and easily taken by the keeper.
18:57 Aguero puts Argentina in front
Three minutes later, on the counter, Iceland score the equaliser.
Finnbogason scores his and his nation's first ever FIFA World Cup goal.
18:53 Argentina take on Iceland in opener
This was coming, a lovely-build-up and Aguero puts Argentina ahead in the 20th minute.
A sharp turn and an unstoppable left-foot pile driver high into the net.
He has now scored his first FIFA World Cup goal.
Nice pace to the game here as Argentina enjoy possession.
Messi and Argentina putting the pressure on the Icelandic defence.
Argentina and Iceland have kicked off proceedings in Moscow and it is the Argentine's who get an early free-kick. Nothing comes off it.
Iceland are getting involved in crazy challenges giving Messi another chance at a free-kick and he shoots just wide.
Iceland on the counter and they have missed a chance, Birkir Bjarnason misses the goal post.
18:31 France beat Australia 2-1
Argentina start as hot favourites to beat Iceland in their opening World Cup Group D match on Saturday but the toughest opponent for the runners-up four years ago may be themselves rather than the tiny tournament debutants.
Champions in 1978 and 1986, Argentina are part of football's elite and have in their ranks Lionel Messi, the five-times world player of the year.
But they only qualified for Russia thanks to a win in their final qualifier against Ecuador and scored 19 goals in 18 games, the lowest by any South American qualifier since the single-group format was adopted in the mid-1990s.
Iceland were the surprise team at Euro 2016, drawing with winners Portugal in the group stage and defeating England in the last 16 on their way to quarter-final defeat by France.
But their form has dipped this year and they have failed to win any their last four matches, three of which they lost, to Mexico, Peru and Norway, by shipping three goals.
Key midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson has missed most of the last three months with a knee injury. He made substitute appearances in Iceland's final two friendlies this month and his presence from the start would be a vital confidence booster.
Few people believe Iceland can win but they may take heart from recalling the last time Argentina expected to win the opening game of the tournament against a team who had never won a World Cup match.
The year was 1990 and Argentina's opponents were Cameroon who won 1-0 and went on to reach the quarter-finals, a feat still unsurpassed by an African side.
17:24 Pogba scores winner
Five minutes added time here as France continue to make the forays forward..
The ball has just been moving from one end to the other.
Australia try to get a late goal in, still fighting to find a late equaliser but to no avail as the writing is now on the wall.
The referee blows the final whistle and France beat Australia 2-1.
Australia's Robbie Kruse comes off for 19-year-old Arzani.
The Socceroos have become a little tardy now at the back.
France get a free-kick and that is a yellow card Behich for a challenge on Fekir.
Fekir takes the free-kick which was a total waste.
17:09 France lead Aus 2-0
With 10 minutes to go, Pogba toes the ball into the net, it goes behind the goal-line and referee gives it to the Frenchman.
France take a 2-0 lead.
France get a corner and they get an opportunity, but its wasted.
Giroud's introduction has fastened the game for France and they are pushing forward now.
With 15 minutes to go, Tolisso gets a card for a challenge on an Australian.
In the 78th minute Tolisso has been taken off for Matuidi.
With 12 minutes to go, the match looks well poised to end in a draw.
The game is back to square one and the Aus defence is on the money again as French forward Olivier Giroud readies to come off the bench.
Giroud replaces Griezmann and Dembele is brought in for Fekir.
Australia also make a change bringing in Irwine for Rogic.
16:52 Australia go level after 4 minutes
In the 60th minute Aus get a free kick and Umtiti gets a hand to it and the referee points to the penalty spot and Aus have a chance here to level.
The Socerroos equalise after Jedinak converts from the spot.
Umtiti's hand ball proves costly for France.
16:46 Greizmann scores his first goal for France in the World Cup
In the 55th minute, Pogba bisects the defence to give the ball to Griezmann who falls in the box.
Ref uses VAR and after checking France are awarded the penalty and Risdon gets a yellow card.
Historic moment here as Greizmann steps up to take the penalty in the 57th minute and he scores to put France ahead.
Over 20 fouls committed in the game.
16:20 Aus defence has been impressive
At half time, here in Kazan, France and Australia go into the dugout ties 0-0.
Australia have done a good job. After early inroads, and a genuine attempt at goal in the 8th minute, France have not had the chance to take a shot at goal or take a lead for that matter.
In an enthralling first half, with one minute added time, Australia take a shot on goal but only to go wide.
France have not been able to penetrate as the Aussies have put the pressure by tackling and dispossessing the French.
In the last few minutes before half-time France have made forays into the box but the Australian defenders have managed to keep them at bay.
16:03 It's 0-0 after 30 minutes
France play their opener against Australia and after 30 minutes of play it's still a 0-0 draw.
French keeper Hugo Lloris playing his 99th game has made a couple of good saves already to deny Australia.
Australia on the other hand have been superb in defence.
01:33
The referee whistles for full-time and it is all over here in Sochi and what will go down in history as one of the true World Cup Classics with the final scores all even at 3-3.
It was a match which could have gone either way and eventually both teams walk away with a point each. Cristiano Ronaldo will hog the headlines for his hat-trick, a performance fitting for the stage as both teams will now face group minnows Morocco and Iran in the remaining matches.
Final score Portugal 3 Spain 3
01:19
Five minutes from time and Cristiano Ronaldo scores for Portugal with an absolute screamer.
After being fouled at the edge of the area, Ronaldo steps up to take the resultant free-kick and his resultant effort curls over the wall and into the top corner of the goal with keeper De Gea watching helplessly.
Unbelievable technique and precision shown by the Portugese skipper.
Goal! Portugal 3 - 3 Spain
01:02
Twenty minutes more to go in this nail-biting fixture and Diego Costa almost makes it four for Spain with a close range effort which goes inches wide of the far post.
The striker has been a thorn in the side of the Portugese defenders all evening, especially Pepe.
00:51
This is turning out to be one of the classic matches of the World Cup.
Spain have now taken the lead for the first time in this game with a spectacular strike by Nacho.
The defender, who was at fault for conceding the penalty in the opening minutes of the game unleashes a thundering half-volley from outside the box which curls viciously past the keeper and in off the far post.
Goal! Portugal 2-3 Spain
00:46
Ten minutes into the second half and Spain have pulled level.
A hopeful ball into the box is headed into the path of Diego Costa inside the six yard box and the Brazilian-born striker bundles the ball into the back of the net Goal!
Portugal 2-2 Spain
Image: Diego Costa of Spain celebrates after scoring
Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images
00:25
It's half-time in Sochi and Portugal head into the dressing rooms with a slender lead although Spain have dominated the game in long phases.
Expect a whole lot of goals in the second half and Spain to make this a truly exciting contest as they attempt to claw their way back into the game.
00:19
Cristiano Ronaldo puts Portugal back in the lead against the run of play right on the brink of halftime.
His low shot from the edge of the area is horribly misjudged by Spanish keeper De Gea who watches in horror as the ball trickles into the back of the net. Goal! Portugal 2-1 Spain
Image: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates after scoring
Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
00:09
Thirty minutes played and Spain are showing some glimpses of their trademark tiki-taka style that made them a household name all the way back in 2010.
A string of intricate passes finds its way to the feet of Iniesta whose resulting effort goes agonizingly wide of the far post.
00:05
Portugal are hanging on but Spain looking very good in possession.
TOP STORIES
© 2024 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances