By Anna Italia
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Italian Soccer Serie A Blog supports Italian Serie A players in the World Cup
73% Ball Possession ARGENTINA and 27% Ball Possession ICELAND
Argentina 1 – 1 Iceland 
19′ Sergio Agüero 23′ Alfred Finnbogason
A thriller. The First Stage Group D game between Argentina and Iceland ending with a 1-1 draw on Saturday 16 June at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow, Russia. We might say that Argentina failed and Iceland passed the test. A disappointment to see one of the best players of the world Argentinean forward Lionel Messi failing to convert a penalty. Pressure is now for Argentina to win the second game against Croatia or risk the qualification. Iceland will face Nigeria. Qualification still open.
FIFA First Stage Group D Standing after the first game reads:
Croatia in the 1st position with 3 points and a positive goal difference 0f +2. Argentina in the 2nd position with 1 point and a “0” goal difference, Iceland in the 3rd position with 1 point and a “0” goal difference. Nigeria in the 4th position with 0 points and a negative goal difference of -2.
And so, after the first round of games in Group D…
1) #CRO
2) #ARG
3) #ISL
4) #NGA #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/GvulvQKvzB— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018
Click the video to watch the highlights of the match Argentina vs Iceland including all goals and Messi’s failed penalty.
Argentina opening the score in the 19th minute. It is forward Sergio Agüero “El Kun” to defeat Iceland goalkeeper Halldórsson with a left footed shot in the top left corner. Great moment for Aguero silencing his critics with this goal.
#SomosArgentina ¡GOOOOOOL ARGENTINO! @aguerosergiokun define con un bombazo. pic.twitter.com/5Rp0H7aFMc
— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) June 16, 2018
#SomosArgentina ¡Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool! @aguerosergiokun abre el marcador para el Seleccionado Nacional. pic.twitter.com/ZecgIZUMjv
— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) June 16, 2018
AGUEROOOOOOOOOOOOO!
1-0 to @Argentina! #ARGISL pic.twitter.com/GL7iswn2Hj
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018
Ping. #ARGISL pic.twitter.com/dJYvrimqC5
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018
Iceland equalizing in the 23rd minute. It is Alfred Finnbogason to defeat Argentina goalkeeper Caballero with a right footed shot in the center. It is Finnbogason’s first goal in a World Cup.
It took just 23 minutes for #ISL to score their first #WorldCup goal ? pic.twitter.com/76ZbyoRGBi
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018
The unthinkable! A blow for Argentina in the 64th minute when Lionel Messi failed to convert the penalty. There it was Superman Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldórsson saving Messi’s left footed shot in the bottom left corner denying him the joy to shout a goal and give the lead to Argentina. The penalty was conceded by Hördur Björgvin Magnusson after a foul on Maximiliano Meza. A momentum for Halldórsson giving a joy to the few Iceland fans at the Stadium becoming a hero.
What a penalty save from @hanneshalldors to deny Lionel Messi! #ARGISL 1-1#WorldCup pic.twitter.com/jRXB6piFYj
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018
Iceland fans, doing what Iceland fans do ?#ARGISL pic.twitter.com/Igx5K1m3o6
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018
A dream debut for ??@footballiceland
Penalties aplenty, with notable misses from the spot
It was an eventful Day 3 at the #WorldCup
➡️https://t.co/YDWrrVQTIi pic.twitter.com/BPxTavVrP0
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018
Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear gloves.
Your @Budweiser #ManoftheMatch is @hanneshalldors! pic.twitter.com/iKJvQ7W6dm
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018
Here is ARGENTINA official starting lineup – formation by coach Jorge Sampaoli:
ARGENTINA (4-2-3-1): Caballero; Salvio, Otamendi, Rojo, Tagliafico; Biglia, Mascherano; Meza, Messi, Di María; Agüero.
Here is ICELAND official starting lineup – formation by Head Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson:
ICELAND (4-4-1-1): Halldórsson; Sævarsson, Árnason, R. Sigurðsson, Magnússon; J. Guðmundsson, Gunnarsson, Hallfreðsson, B. Bjarnason; G. Sigurðsson; Finnbogason.
Serie A Players called up among the 23-final man
- 1 Italian Serie A player with Australia: Udinese midfielder Emil Hallfredsson..
- 5 Italian Serie A players with Argentina National team: AS Roma defender Federico Fazio, Torino defender Cristian Ansaldi, AC Milan midfielder Lucas Biglia, Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain, and Juventus forward Paulo Dybala.
The matches keep on coming!
Next up: #ARGISL pic.twitter.com/gbtQB307a6
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018
#ARG are here ?
Ready for Round 2? Find out where you can watch the game ? https://t.co/xliHcxWvEO
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018
Hi, #ISL!
Find out where you can watch #ARGISL ? https://t.co/xliHcxWvEO
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018
#SomosArgentina Estos son los once jugadores elegidos por Jorge Sampaoli para el debut en #Rusia2018 pic.twitter.com/4gjaDXAQhJ
— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) June 16, 2018
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018
An incredible achievement from @Mascherano ?#ARGISL pic.twitter.com/WAuMVJQWtu
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018
2018 FIFA World Cup
First stage – Group D
Argentina – Iceland
Saturday 16 June 2018
Spartak Stadium
Moscow, Russia
16:00 Local Time
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Pawel Sokolnicki (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Tomasz Listkiewicz (POL)
Fourth Official: Wilmar Roldán (COL)
Fifth Official: Alexander Guzmán (COL)
VAR: Mark Geiger (USA)
AVAR1: Pawel Gil (POL)
AVAR 2: Joe Fletcher (CAN)
AVAR 3: Gery Vargas (BOL)
Goals:
Official lineups – formations:
ARGENTINA (4-2-3-1): Caballero; Salvio, Otamendi, Rojo, Tagliafico; Biglia, Mascherano; Meza, Messi, Di María; Agüero.
Subs: 20. Enzo Pérez, 2. Gabriel Mercado, 4. Cristian Ansaldi, 6. Federico Fazio, 7. Éver Banega, 8. Marcos Acuña, 9. Gonzalo Higuaín, 12. Franco Armani, 20. Giovani Lo Celso, 21. Cristian Pavón
Coach: Jorge Sampaoli
ICELAND (4-4-1-1): Halldórsson; Sævarsson, Árnason, R. Sigurðsson, Magnússon; J. Guðmundsson, Gunnarsson, Hallfreðsson, B. Bjarnason; G. Sigurðsson; Finnbogason.
Subs: 3. Samúel Friðjónsson, 4. Albert Gudmundsson, 5. Sverrir Ingason, 9. Björn Sigurðarson, 12. Frederik Schram, 13. Rúnar Rúnarsson, 15. Hólmar Eyjólfsson, 16. Ólafur Ingi Skúlason, 19. Rúrik Gíslason, 21. Arnór Traustason, 22. Jón Böðvarsson, 23. Ari Skulason
Coach: Heimir Hallgrímsson
France – Australia 
Morocco – Iran 