Argentina vs. Iceland: World Cup 2018 Live Score and Updates

• A goal by Sergio Aguero gave Argentina an early lead over the plucky underdogs from tiny Iceland in World Cup action from Moscow.

• Refresh here for live updates and analysis from Russia.

Argentina’s Javier Mascherano and Iceland’s Gylfi Sigurdsson fought for the ball during their World Cup match on Saturday. Christian Hartmann/Reuters

Argentina				Iceland
	Group Stage

How to watch: In the U.S., Fox and Telemundo have the broadcast at 9 a.m. Eastern, but you can stream it here.

23’: A World Cup First for Aguero

Aguero has scored 37 times for Argentina, but never before in a World Cup game.

19’: GOAL Argentina! 1-0

It’s Sergio Aguero, who picked up the ball in the box, freed himself and fired, looking almost off-balance as he did so. Right in the net. That’s what Argentina needs to do about six more times in this tournament.

18’: Messi With a Great Chance

Messi was isolated with only Hallfredsson guarding him. He paused casually, beat his defender in a step and fired from just outside the box. Wide.

13’: Argentina Controlling Posession

First corner to Argentina. Di Maria hesitated over it, then sent it right to Iceland. Argentina controlling possession, and Di Maria tried a very speculative shot. Not close.

Argentina's fans have decided that the best way to deal with the thunderclap is to drown it out. That would, atmosphere-wise, be a welcome development.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) June 16, 2018

10’: Missed Chance for Iceland

A sloppy pass in Argentina’s box leaves Sigurdsson inches away from poking it in. Bjarnason then latches on to it and shoots it just wide. Nearly a terrible error for Argentina.

9’: Another Chance for Messi

Free kick to Messi again. It races through the box and Tagliafico gets a head to it, but it goes wide.

5’: Free Kick for Messi

It’s from 40 yards plus, but still. Free kick for Messi! He ships it into the box where it rolls free, worryingly for Iceland, but is eventually cleared.

3’: Caballero Starts for Argentina (Not for Chelsea)

Between the sticks for Argentina is Willy Caballero, who sits on the bench for Chelsea. But here he’s starting for a World Cup contender. (Chelsea’s starter, Thibaut Courtois, is the starter for Belgium here.)

1’: Kickoff in Moscow!

Argentina is in black and Iceland in white. A first ever World Cup for tiny Iceland. And is this the start of (finally) Messi’s World Cup? Or will it be another disappointment?

Argentina vs. Iceland Top Story Lines

• Iceland Lineup

2 Sevarsson

14 Arnason

6 R Sigurdsson

18 Magnusson

7 Berg Gudmundsson

17 Gunnarsson

20 Hallfredsson

8 Bjarnason

10 G Sigurdsson

11 Finnbogason

Argentina Lineup

23 Caballero

18 Salvio

17 Otamendi

16 Rojo

3 Tagliafico

13 Meza

5 Biglia

14 Mascherano

11 Di María

10 Messi

19 Aguero

• Heimir Hallgrimsson is a laid-back leader and sometime dentist who sees success for Iceland’s national team as a continuing journey unconnected to its 2018 World Cup finish.

• The greatest player in the world (sorry, Ronaldo fans) is Lionel Messi. But the naysayers who love Pele and Maradona still like to point out that he needs a World Cup to claim G.O.A.T. status. He is 30 years old now, and this may be his last chance to play in the big event in his prime.

• Messi has plenty of talented company, including Sergio Aguero, the Manchester City striker who loves to score, Paulo Dybala and Angel di Maria. So the talent to lift the Cup is there, but can it mesh together? Argentina placed only third in South American qualifying, with a 7-4-7 record.

• Iceland, population 350,000, is the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup. But it proved in the European Championship two years ago that it could play with the top sides, defeating England in the round of 16. The result was hardly a fluke, as Iceland followed it by finishing ahead of Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey in its World Cup qualifying group.

• European teams have taken notice of Iceland’s skills and its players have taken up residence at top clubs in England, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey and Russia.

• In a statement that may come back to haunt him, midfielder Johann Berg Gudmundsson of Iceland said, “We kept Ronaldo quite quiet, so hopefully we can do the same against Messi.”

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