Lionel Messi saw his penalty saved as Iceland held Argentina to a shock 1-1 draw in their first ever World Cup match and perhaps regret leaving out Serie A talent.

Iceland made their all-time World Cup debut against Leo Messi’s Argentina, but while Milan midfielder Lucas Biglia started, Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala, Federico Fazio and Cristian Ansaldi were on the bench.

The South American giants almost gifted a goal after nine minutes with a Willy Caballero howler, but Birkir Bjarnason – formerly of Pescara – turned wide.

Lionel Messi saw his penalty saved as Iceland held Argentina to a shock 1-1 draw in their first ever World Cup match and perhaps regret leaving out Serie A talent.

Iceland made their all-time World Cup debut against Leo Messi’s Argentina, but while Milan midfielder Lucas Biglia started, Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala, Federico Fazio and Cristian Ansaldi were on the bench.

The South American giants almost gifted a goal after nine minutes with a Willy Caballero howler, but Birkir Bjarnason – formerly of Pescara – turned wide.

Messi’s snapshot stung the goalkeeper’s gloves before Sergio Aguero turned a misplaced Marcos Rojo effort into an assist, turning to blast into the near top corner from 12 yards.

However, Argentina were made to pay for chaotic defending and goalkeeping, Alfred Finnbogason eventually tapping in.

The Seleccion were awarded a penalty as former Juventus youth team player Hordur Magnusson clumsily barged into the back of Maximiliano Meza, but Messi stepped up and saw his spot-kick saved by Hannes Thor Halldorsson. It was the fourth penalty not converted by Messi in his last seven between Barcelona and Argentina.

Cristian Pavon came off the bench and immediately had penalty appeals waved away for an apparent Birkir Saevarsson trip, while Messi curled inches wide.

Gonzalo Higuain of Juventus was eventually introduced with just six minutes left, leaving Paulo Dybala on the bench. Halldorsson kept Iceland in it with a fine save on Pavon’s cross-shot, but Argentina couldn’t make all that pressure count.

Questions will inevitably be asked of Coach Jorge Sampaoli, who not only didn't use Dybala at all, but left Serie A Capocannoniere Mauro Icardi at home.

Argentina 1-1 Iceland

Aguero 19 (A), Finnbogason 23 (I)

Argentina: Caballero; Salvio, Otamendi, Rojo, Tagliafico; Biglia (Banega 53), Mascherano; Meza (Higuain 84), Messi, Di Maria (Pavon 75), Aguero

Iceland: Halldorsson, Saevarsson, Arnason, R Sigurdsson, Magnusson; J Gudmundsson (Gislason 63), Gunnarsson (A Skulason 76), Hallfredsson, Bjarnason; G Sigurdsson, Finnbogason (Sigurdarson 89)

Ref: Marciniak (POL)

Saved penalty: Messi 64 (A)

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