World Cup

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Attendance: 44,190

World Cup | Group Stage

Jun 16, 2018 at 2pm UK

Argentina
1-1
Iceland Iceland

Aguero (19')

FT(HT: 1-1)

Finnbogason (23')

Lionel Messi: 'Argentina deserved to beat Iceland'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 16 June 2018

Lionel Messi stresses that Argentina were superior to Iceland in their World Cup opener and deserved to get more out of the Group D opener than a 1-1 draw.

Lionel Messi has claimed that Argentina were superior to Iceland in their World Cup opener and deserved to get more out of the Group D encounter than a 1-1 draw.

The two-time world champions took the lead in the first half through Sergio Aguero, but the tournament debutants hit back at the Otkrytiye Arena through Alfred Finnbogason.

Messi had the chance to put Argentina ahead from the penalty spot, but his tame effort was easily kept out by Hannes Halldorsson as the spoils were shared in Moscow.

"We had a hard time creating chances," Messi is quoted by Mundo Albiceleste as saying. "We're going to go out there to beat Croatia [on June 21].

"We were superior [to Iceland]. We tried but it wasn't to be. Missing the penalty hurt.

"Worried? No, I'm angry and it hurts because I missed the penalty. I feel responsible for not having the three points. It would have changed everything.

"We are calm. We don't have to go crazy. We just started and we know it won't be easy. It hurts because we deserved to win."

Iceland failed to record a single shot in the second half, while Argentina had 16 attempts on Iceland's goal in that period.