Argentina Dominates Iceland in Final Friendly

Argentina concluded their World Cup warm-up fixtures with a convincing 3-0 triumph over Iceland in Auburn, Alabama. The match, held on Tuesday evening, saw goals from Valentin Barco, Thiago Almada, and a penalty converted by substitute Lionel Messi, ensuring the South American giants head into the tournament on a positive note and without any new injury worries.

Messi's Impactful Return

Lionel Messi, who had been recovering from a left hamstring issue that sidelined him from Inter Miami's last pre-World Cup match on May 24 and Argentina's previous friendly against Honduras, made a significant return to the pitch. Entering the game in the 70th minute, Messi immediately influenced the proceedings. With his very first touch, he delivered a precise through ball to Lautaro Martinez, who was subsequently fouled by Iceland's goalkeeper Elias Olafsson inside the box. Messi stepped up to take the resulting penalty, confidently slotting the ball into the top of the net to double Argentina's lead. This marked his 117th international goal and solidified his readiness for the World Cup.

At 38, Messi is poised to make history at the upcoming World Cup, as he is expected to join Cristiano Ronaldo in appearing in his sixth career World Cup tournament, a testament to his enduring career at the highest level of international football.

Experimental Lineup and Early Opportunities

Coach Lionel Scaloni opted for an experimental starting XI, resting key players such as Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, and Alexis Mac Allister, who joined Messi on the sidelines at the outset. Despite the changed lineup, Argentina demonstrated their depth and quality in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 88,000.

However, it was Iceland who squandered an early opportunity to take the lead, with Mikael Egill Ellertsson firing over an open goal in the initial minutes. Argentina capitalized on their own chances, with Strasbourg defender Valentin Barco opening the scoring. Following a scramble in the Iceland penalty area, the ball fell to Barco, who expertly struck it into the bottom corner of the net, giving the three-time world champions an early advantage.

Nico Paz, given a chance to impress in Messi's absence, had an opportunity to extend Argentina's lead before halftime but saw his powerful shot bravely repelled by the face of Iceland's goalkeeper Elias Olafsson.

Second Half Adjustments and Further Goals

The second half saw Scaloni make five substitutions, introducing influential players like Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Lautaro Martinez. Martinez, in particular, was eager to make his mark, hitting the post twice as Argentina sought to increase their lead. The crowd's anticipation for Messi's appearance grew throughout the second half, and their patience was rewarded in the final quarter.

Messi was involved in Argentina's third goal as well, delivering a pass to Rodrigo De Paul, who then squared the ball for Thiago Almada to tap in, sealing a comprehensive 3-0 victory for the South American side. The performance underscored Argentina's strong form and readiness as they head into the highly anticipated World Cup.

Iraq's Preparations Suffer Setback

In other World Cup warm-up action, Iraq experienced a setback in their preparations, falling 2-0 to Venezuela in Bridgeville, Illinois. Midfielder Cristian Casseres opened the scoring for Venezuela in the 17th minute with a close-range finish. Venezuela extended their lead immediately after the break when Casseres won possession and set up striker Jesus Ramirez, who skillfully dribbled past a defender before unleashing a powerful shot into the net.

Iraq's challenges compounded in the 72nd minute when forward Ali Youssef received a straight red card, leaving his team with 10 men for the remainder of the match. Iraq is set to make their first World Cup finals appearance in 40 years, with their Group I campaign beginning on June 17 against Norway, followed by matches against France and Senegal.

Source: Messi comes off the bench to score in Argentina’s final World Cup warm-up