Argentina must overcome own demons to beat Iceland

Champions in 1978 and 1986, Argentina is part of football’s elite and have in its ranks Lionel Messi, the five-time world player of the year. But it only qualified for Russia thanks to a win in its final qualifier against Ecuador.

Since then, its on the field woes have worsened - a slim win over non-qualifier Italy in March was followed four days later by a 6-1 hammering by Spain - and been exacerbated by bad luck and poor planning. Argentina lost its first-choice goalkeeper Sergio Romero to a knee injury and midfielder Manuel Lanzini withdrew after damaging ligaments nine days before the tournament. It pulled itself together to beat Haiti 4-0 but that did little to convince anxious fans.

Argentine preparations were dealt another blow when an ill-advised friendly against Israel in Jerusalem was cancelled due to political pressure. In spite of all this, Argentina is still firm favourite in Moscow to overcome the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup finals.

Iceland was the surprise team at Euro 2016, drawing with winner Portugal in the group stage and defeating England in the last 16 on its way to quarter-final defeat by France. But its form has dipped this year and it has failed to win any its last four matches, three of which it lost, to Mexico, Peru and Norway, by shipping three goals.

Key midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson has missed most of the last three months with a knee injury. He made substitute appearances in Iceland’s final two friendlies this month and his presence from the start would be a vital confidence booster. 

Few people believe Iceland can win but it may take heart from recalling the last time Argentina expected to win the opening game of the tournament against a team who had never won a World Cup match. The year was 1990 and Argentina’s opponents was Cameroon which won 1-0 and went on to reach the quarter-finals, a feat still unsurpassed by an African side.