It was close.
A penalty would be harsh - unintentional and using the hand that got hit as support.
A couple of good chances for Iceland near the end of the first half. Interesting game.
Disappointing stuff from Argentina. They don’t seem motivated. Iceland otoh looks fluid and dangerous.
Especially because it deflected off his leg first. But apparently it wouldn’t have been a penalty even if it hit direct, according to the Fox expert.
They should change the wording of that law. The overwhelming majority of handballs are unintentional. Probably 98-99%.
Even true for Iceland, though for them it’s 90s football Italian-style. Somewhat parking the bus and then counter-punching.
Yeah, but look at Spain - Portugal yesterday. Portugal was parking the bus too, albeit not as much. And Spain’s tempo, movement, and creativity were miles better than what we’re seeing here from Argentina.
Iceland really looks like the more likely team to grab a second even though they’ve possessed the ball for a total of 12 seconds.
Yeah, I agree. Argentina’s lucky in that their inability to execute against a packed box is only equaled by Iceland’s reluctance to send more than three players down on the counter.
ETA: no sooner do I type that than ISL is pressing the Argentine defense. The 2nd half is off to a great start!
Not that there was anyone to hear, but I called Messi to miss that.
It looks like it’s once more not the tournament of Messi.
Still early. Not a convincing penalty though.
Holden a little inconsistent with what he thinks is a penalty. I agree with him this time.
Gary Lineker: Messi misses a penalty and somehow, somewhere, I think Ronaldo may be winking…
UHH OHH. This is dangerous
Second best defense of Moscow in the last 75 years.
Iceland with the huge draw. Argentina looking mostly impotent. Messi with a missed penalty. Quite a contrast to yesterday.
Croatia likely to pay the price on Thursday. If be shocked if Argentina doesn’t jump all over them early and often.
Iceland did exactly what Iceland do and Argentina again look a little toothless in attack. Messi needs more than just Messi.
Was an interesting game if not a barnstormer. There will be some sore heads in Reykjavik tonight…though maybe not as most of Iceland seems currently to be residing in Russia.
I have visions of confused tourists wandering through a deserted Reykjavik airport, stamping their own passports, getting their own luggage out of the hold, helping themselves to the massive toblerones in the duty-free shop.
Not sure what to think of Denmark v Peru. I hope we get a good match. Wish we could get a time machine and bring back the Laudrops for the game.
Didn’t see any mention of the France 2 Australia 1 morning game (what, you don’t get up at 4-5am?). In a way it paralleled Agentina-Iceland, France was way more skilled and always seemed a step or two quicker, but just didn’t seem to be able to finish well, and Australia stayed composed on defense and kept breaking up French attacks. About 2" made the difference (the amount Drogba’s goal cleared the line by) or we would have had another 1-1 draw. France will take the win, but needs to do better.