All the possession, passing and shooting statistics were in favour of Lionel Messi and his teammates in Moscow’s Spartak Stadium, but it was the Nordic side who left the pitch the happier after an intriguing Group D game.
Messi himself had 11 of Argentina’s 28 shots but crucially missed a 64th-minute penalty, saved by man-of-the-match keeper Hannes Halldorsson, thus failing to add to his tally of five goals at what is now his fourth World Cup appearance.
Argentina had overwhelming possession, completed 657 passes to Iceland’s meagre 127, and the heat map of the game glows around the Iceland penalty area.
However, some vital statistics are often overlooked, and here Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side came out on top: they won the tackles — 18-8 — and were well ahead on the number of balls blocked or cleared.
Iceland were nothing if not organised.
They had done their homework on Argentina — keeper Halldorsson studying Messi penalties to know he should dive to his right — and showed that they may be even more difficult to beat two years after reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.
“This is a great success for Iceland. I firmly believe that Argentina will go far in this World Cup, so it’s a fantastic result for us,” Hallgrimsson said.
In fact, Iceland were more defensive than they wanted to be against an Argentina side which had taken a 19th-minute lead through Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.
“We could not give them too much space, knowing the talent they have. But although they had some good opportunities, so did we,” said Hallgrimsson.
Despite their struggles to break down the Iceland defence, there were often signs that Jorge Sampaoli’s Argentina side could be devastating if allowed to play — but also glimpses of vulnerability at the back, which next opponents Croatia will surely have noticed.
Having done the hard work by taking the lead, Sampaoli’s side easily conceded just over four minutes later when Alfred Finnbogason finished from close range following a ball across the six-yard box parried by keeper Willy Caballero.
Iceland have now prevented both Messi and world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo from scoring against them at major tournaments.
But perhaps Argentina can at least take heart from Euro 2016 when Strakarnir okkar (Our Boys) began with a 1-1 draw against Portugal, and Ronaldo and his side went on to win the title.
Now Iceland, who qualified at the top of a group featuring Croatia, must be quietly confident of again progressing.
Croatia, again their group rivals here, later beat Nigeria 2-0 in Kaliningrad, and the African side are next up for Iceland in Volgograd on Friday.
Don’t expect anything but another fighting performance from an Icelandic side that will again look to crowd out their opponents and get the ball forward quickly.
