Argentina did not disappoint in their final tune-up match, cruising to a commanding 3-0 victory over Iceland thanks to strikes from Valentin Barco, Lionel Messi, and Thiago Almada. The win provides a massive confidence boost for the Albiceleste just before they begin their highly anticipated World Cup title defense in North America.
After surviving a massive scare from Iceland in the opening minutes of the match, Argentina found their breakthrough in the 8th minute. Valentin Barco unleashed a spectacular, clinical strike from outside the box to open the scoring and set the tone at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Moving into the second half, manager Lionel Scaloni made a flurry of tactical substitutions to give nearly his entire bench some valuable playing time. The changes paid immediate dividends, as Messi doubled the lead just one minute after stepping onto the pitch. After the referee pointed to the spot for a foul on Lautaro Martínez, the captain confidently stepped up and converted the penalty kick.
With Argentina firmly in control and playing their best soccer of the night, the third and final goal arrived courtesy of a beautiful team sequence. Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, and Thiago Almada combined flawlessly in the final third, allowing the Atlético Madrid midfielder to slot the ball home and seal a comprehensive victory.
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End of the game!
Argentina defeated Iceland 3-0!
90'- Stoppage time (3-0)
The referee added three more minutes.
86'- GOOOOAAAAL FOR ARGENTINA!! (3-0)
Thiago Almada extends the lead!!
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81'- Modifications in Iceland (2-0)
Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson, Hordur Björgvin Magnússon, Albert Gudmunsson and Orri Steinn Óskarsson were replaced by Gylfi Sigurðsson, Hjörtur Hermannsson, Kristall Máni Ingason and Daníel Gudjohnsen.
The referee awarded a penalty for Argentina after a foul on Lautaro Martinez!
69'- Modifications in Argentina (1-0)
Agustin Giay and Giuliano Simeone were replaced by Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Montiel.
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66'- Martinez hit the post! (1-0)
Now it's Lautaro Martínez who rattled the post, and Argentina is knocking heavily on the door for a second goal! Iceland is hanging on by a thread!
63'- Yellow card in Iceland (1-0)
Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson received a yellow card.
62'- Mac Allister hit the post! (1-0)
Following a brilliant cross from Martínez, Alexis Mac Allister nearly hit the second, but his powerful strike rattled the woodwork!
58'- Modifications in Argentina (1-0)
Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz were replaced by Nicolas Gonzalez and Thiago Almada.
56'- Martinez almost scores! (1-0)
Following a low pass from Nico Paz, Martínez failed to connect with the ball right in front of an open net, squandering a massive opportunity to double the lead.
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50'- Modification in Argentina (1-0)
Lisandro Martinez was replaced by Crisitan Romero.
46'- Modifications in Argentina (1-0)
Valentin Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios and Jose Manuel Lopez were replaced by Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Lautaro Martinez.
The second half is underway!
Argentina and Iceland are already playing the second half!
Halftime!
The game goes to halftime!
43'- Nice try from Jóhannesson (1-0)
Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson unleashed a strike from outside the box but Rulli saved it without problems.
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42'- Yellow card in Argentina (1-0)
Valentin Barco received a yellow card.
39'- Nice try from Simeone (1-0)
Simeone cut sharply inside the area and unleashed a powerful shot, but Elías Rafn Ólafsson reacted quickly to make a fine diving save and deny Argentina.
35'- Pálsson tries with a header (1-0)
Pálsson rised above the defense to connect with a header off a set-piece delivery, but his effort sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
30'- Yellow card in Iceland (1-0)
Daníel Leó Grétarsson received a yellow card after a foul on Barco.
27'- Yellow card in Iceland (1-0)
Gudlaugur Victor Pálsson received a yellow card.
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22'- Nico Paz tries from the distance (1-0)
Nico Paz stepped up and tried his luck with a long-range free kick, but his effort sailed well wide of the target.
18'- Argentina dominates (1-0)
Argentina is comfortably dictating the tempo of the match with 72% of the possession. Backed by their early lead, the Albiceleste is choking out the game and making it incredibly difficult for Iceland to mount any sort of comeback.
13'- Nico Paz's shot blocked (1-0)
Following a fluid team passing sequence, Nico Paz found the ball inside the box and unleashed a strike, but a Icelandic defender was in his way to block the shot.
8'- GOOOAAAL FOR ARGENTINA!! (1-0)
Valentin Barco scores the opener of the game!!
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3'- What a miss by Ellertsson! (0-0)
Following a brilliant cross, Mikael Egill Ellertsson finds himself completely unmarked right in front of the net, but he gets under the ball and blasts his strike high over Rulli's crossbar.
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GAME ON!
The game between Argentina and Iceland is underway!
Players are on the pitch!
Players from both teams are on the field. Everything is ready for the start of the match!
Head-to-head history
Tonight's matchup marks only the second time these two nations have ever shared a pitch. Their lone previous meeting came in a group-stage opener at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Sergio "Kun" Agüero opened the scoring for the Albiceleste, but Alfred Finnbogason equalizer just minutes later locked in the definitive scoreline and secured a historic point for the European underdogs.
Both teams doing warm up activities
Players for both sides have taken the field for warmups at Jordan-Hare Stadium!
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