Iceland stunned Argentina in Moscow as Lionel Messi’s second-half penalty miss saw the smallest nation in World Cup history secure a draw against the two-time world champions.
Alfred Finnbogason’s equaliser cancelled out a Sergio Aguero strike as England’s Euro 2016 conquerors produced a heroic defensive display against the star-studded Argentine attack.
It was Aguero, goalless in all eight previous World Cup appearances, who set the scoring going, lashing in on the turn with his left foot on 19 minutes after Marcos Rojo’s scuffed shot fell to him in the box.
Undeterred, the debutants equalised just four minutes later, Finnbogason tapping in their own first ever World Cup goal after Willy Caballero palmed Gylfi Sigurdsson’s low drive right into his path.
Argentina were adamant they should have been awarded a penalty at the end of the first half when Maximiliano Meza’s cross deflected up onto Ragnar Sigurdsson’s arm, but both referee and VAR deemed the contact unintentional.
With Diego Maradona in the stands and Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick the day before looming over him, all eyes were on Messi, including those of the three Icelandic defenders who followed him wherever he went and offered no space to exert his influence.
He finally got his chance on 64 minutes when Bristol City’s Hordur Magnusson bundled Meza over in the box, but Hannes Halldorsson’s spectacular save from the spot kept the scores level.
In the dying minutes Halldorsson was at his best again, flying to his left to keep out substitute Cristian Pavon’s goalbound effort as Iceland followed up their Euro 2016 antics with yet another upset.
