Argentina superstar Lionel Messi, arguably the best footballer today along with the likes of Ronaldo and Neymar, is facing flak after he missed a penalty against minnows Iceland at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow in their inaugural Group D game. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
#FifaWorldCup2018 : #ARG vs #ISL : It ends 1-1 at the Spartak Stadium, Moscow. And Messi will feel the pangs of not converting the penalty. #WorldCup#ARGISL https://t.co/NN1hYZEo1W
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) June 16, 2018
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018
After Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero gave the Argentines the lead in the 19th minute only for Iceland to restore parity through Finnbogason four minutes later, Messi’s penalty was stopped by the Icelandic custodian. Argentina failed to score again and had to share points with their European opponents.
Messi’s penalty miss came a day after Cristiano Ronaldo netted a hat-trick against Spain, fuelling comparisons between the two greats.
On the other hand, France defeated Australia 2-1 at Kazan in a Group C match while Denmark and Croatia also began their campaign in Russia with victories. While Denmark pipped Peru 1-0 at Saransk, Croatia got the better of Nigeria 2-0 at Kaliningrad in their Group D game.
#FifaWorldCup2018 | #FRA vs #AUS : France beat Australia 2-1 at Kazan in Group C. Griezmann (58-P), Pogba (81) scored for France, Mile Jedinak (62-P) nets for Australia. #WorldCup #FRAAUS
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) June 16, 2018
#FifaWorldCup2018 : Yussuf Yurary Poulsen's 59th-minute goal helps Denmark beat Peru in their opening tie. At the end of 90 mins at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk, the scorecard reads:#PER 0-1 #DEN #WorldCup #PERDEN
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) June 16, 2018
#FifaWorldCup2018 | Croatia begin their campaign in #Russia2018 with a win; Nigeria outplayed, outclassed by Luca Modric & Co. Final score:#CRO 2-0 #NGA #WorldCup #CRONGA
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) June 16, 2018
Meanwhile, Costa Rica will face Serbia in their Group E match at Samara (match to begin at 5:30 pm IST), defending champions Germany will clash with Mexico at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow (8:30 pm IST) while Brazil will lock horns with Switzerland at the Rostov Arena in Rostov-On-Don in the third match of the day (match to begin at 11:30 pm IST).
#FifaWorldCup2018 | Day 4 Matches:
1. COSTA RICA vs SERBIA – Group E
Samara Arena, Samara (5:30 pm IST)2. GERMANY vs MEXICO – Group F
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow (8:30 pm IST)3. BRAZIL vs SWITZERLAND – Group E
Rostov Arena, Rostov-On-Don (11:30 pm IST) pic.twitter.com/HxUVMrF2Fy— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) June 17, 2018
