Outside Spartak Moscow’s modern Otkrytie Arena the blue shirts of Iceland were everywhere.
Many fans had flown in for the day on special packages while others had come to Russia for the tournament group stages. All those I met expressed an excitement if not a disbelief at the prospect of the team competing at the highest level of the game.
That the Icelandic team found themselves in Russia is a huge achievement in itself.
If you have ever visited Reykjavik and Buenos Aires you will know what I mean.
While the Argentinians were runners-up in 2014 and tournament winners twice previously (1978 and 1986) this was Iceland’s first ever match at a World Cup finals. Just qualifying alone is a cause for rejoice.
Argentina vs Iceland
FIFA World Cup 2018
14:00 Kick off Saturday 16th June)
Otkrytie Arena, Moscow
Attendence: 44,190
If the game in Argentina can be described as intense, frenetic and passionate then the Icelandic set up could not be any different. This is a nation with an international team that did not play on a grass pitch until as late as 1957.
Iceland’s first football club Vikingur Reykjavik has existed since 1908 with the domestic league conceived in 1912.
With the league’s foundation, a number of other clubs quickly began to form. Reykjavik side KR Reykjavik and, from the Westman Islands – ÍBV.
In 1915, these sides would be joined in the league by another Reykjavik side – Valur.
Iceland is a sizable place but the entire country of Iceland has a population of 300,000. Contrast that with the urban metropolis of Buenos Aires were almost 3 million people live and its clear this would be a miss match resources wise.
Iceland had been settled by Vikings from Norway sometime in the 8th century.
Scandinavian in nature, the country of Iceland is unique in so many ways.
Since 2010 the game in Iceland has developed at an incredible pace not least thanks to the shock win over England at Euro 2016.
If that loss came as a new low for English football then it proved to be the biggest eruption in Icelandic society since Eyjafjallajökull Volcano exploded in 2010.
The win saw lava fountains, lava flows, a volcanic plume of criticism of the English – Iceland meanwhile glorified in its greatest sporting moment ever.
Once a country that prided itself on the humble achievements of its handball teams it is now the national football team that brings the greatest sense of national pride. Football has managed to entrench itself in the lives of thousands of youngsters in Iceland.
The men’s and women’s national teams are now reaching great heights in international UEFA competition.
Perhaps the most famous characteristic of the Icelandic side is the thunderclap. Hundreds, if not thousands, of animated Icelandic fans, roar together with their cries of “Afram Island!” (“Onwards Iceland!”) together with the hand clap.
Such is the impact its been latched onto by other nations bringing a collective passion to many international sides.
The Icelandic teams’ ability to face up to adversity was never brought more into focus after Sergio Aguero gave Argentina the lead in this Group D fixture.
Outside the stadium a number of lost souls were searching for tickets desperate for any sight inside of the great man.
Earlier in the day the rain had pelted down in Moscow with Red Square soaked by some thunderous showers.
By early afternoon things had changed greatly.
As the teams lined up in the tunnel before entering the field the Icelandic fans roared in anticipation. The team looked relaxed indeed far more relaxed than the Argentine side looked.
The Argentina side had struggled to get to Russia playing any sort of positive football. The players had developed a siege mentality and were said to be sick of the criticism coming their way from a demanding media.
Argentina with all its star players and experience, were up and running within 19 minutes. The opening goal did though have an element of luck about it.
Marcos Rojo of Manchester United lined up a shot from distance that fell straight to the feet of another Manchester man although this time a striker of the light blue persuasion.
The veteran forward Sergio Aguero still had a lot to do.
However, in characteristic fashion, the front man won himself some space with a lovely piece of close control before firing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.
It took Iceland less than five minutes to equalize after a scramble in the Argentina box.
The ball eventually fell to the unmarked Gylfi Sigurdsson at the far post.
The Everton forward’s low driven shot was saved but fell kindly at the feet of Alfred Finnbogason and the Augsburg striker kept his cool to side-foot the rebound into the open goal.
A historic moment for Iceland and the Icelandic national team.
VAR at this time was still a new tool to most of football.
Checks were made for possible Argentina penalties, both of which were turned swept away and declined.
But referee Szymon Marciniak of Poland did not need any help in deciding Magnusson had pulled down Maximiliano Meza in the box midway through the second half.
Up stepped Barcelona man Messi.
The tension among Icelandic fans could be cut with a knife.
But the five-time Ballon d’Or winner saw Halldorsson guess correctly and dive full length to his right to keep out the penalty with a fantastic save.
This was the fourth time Messi had missed a spot-kick in his last seven penalty efforts for club and country.
With this draw Argentina had failed to win their opening match at a World Cup tournament for the first time since losing to Cameroon in 1990.
They eventually reached the final of that event losing out to West Germany in a match more noted for the tears of Diego Maradona. In truth, Argentina had dominated this opener but struggled with the height, power and resolve of the Icelandic side.
The men in blue failed to record a single shot in the second half while Argentina recorded 16 attempts on goal.
Argentina have now missed their last two penalties taken at a World Cup (excluding shoot-outs), with Ariel Ortega failing to convert during the disaster against Sweden in 2002.
Barcelona man Messi had a chance to make up for the penalty miss having 11 shots in total in this fixture – more than he’s had in any of his previous appearances at the World Cup – but it was a game that was destined for a draw and no more than an Icelandic side deserved for its resolve and spirit.
Javier Mascherano’s 144th appearance for Argentina in this match will not be one he remembers fondly despite the midfielder now overtaking Javier Zanetti as their most capped player.
Most had turned up to see the Messi show, whether Russian, Argentine or even Icelandic.
But the man of the match award was given to the Icelandic goalkeeper Halldorsson.
Impressive at Euro 2016 in France the goalkeeper would have been expecting a busy afternoon in Moscow but he stood up to nearly everything.
The 34-year-old twice had to be alert to deny Messi in the first half, before reading the great man’s mind to palm his second-half spot-kick aside. However, the Iceland No 1 saved his best for last when reacting brilliantly to keep out substitute Pavon’s cross-cum-shot with just three minutes to go.
Next in this group for the Argentina side is a crucial mission to take on Croatia at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
Iceland face Nigeria in Volgograd.
All is not well with the South American nation as the struggle to qualify would suggest.
Diego Maradona had lambasted the manager Jorge Sampaoli after the game suggesting the coach would be better never showing his face again in Argentina. He had cut a nervous figure on the touchline during the game – and overall, despite the riches of talent – the Argentine’s will need a miracle to win this World Cup tournament.
No lacking in talent simply unable to get it together.
Argentina: Caballero, Tagliafico, Rojo, Otamendi, Salvio, Biglia, Di Maria, Meza, Mascherano, Messi, Aguero Subs: Banega, Higuain, Pavon
Iceland: Halldorsson, Saevarsson, Sigurdsson, Arnason, Magnusson, Gudmundsson, Bjarnason, Gunnarsson, Hallfredsson, Sigurdsson, Finnbogason Subs: Gislason, Skulason, Sigurdarson
Man of the Match: Hannes Halldorsson