GOAT HORNS
Messi falls short of Ronaldo’s standard as Argentina ties with Iceland
I imagine Cristiano Ronaldo, sitting back, sipping a fizzy water at Portugal’s
World Cup compound while pumping his own tires following Lionel Messi’s unremarkable performance.
Ronaldo undoubtedly enjoyed Messi’s disastrous start to this World Cup — especially after his own hat trick and subtle nod to himself as the “greatest” Friday night jolted this tournament.
But those in Messi’s camp have an out following Argentina’s 1-1 tie with Iceland: The tiny Nordic nation did the same thing to Ronaldo two years ago at the Euros. How quickly we forget.
That said, Portugal went on to win that tournament.
And Ronaldo, you’ll recall, exited the pitch in SaintEtienne that night with a cocky grin akin to the Cheshire Cat. He knew it was just the start of his European Championship.
Despite squandering multiple chances in his own poor performance against a UEFA minnow, Ronaldo’s teammates didn’t need to console him following a bad outing.
Messi, on the other hand, looked downright distraught in the aftermath of Saturday’s momentous result, Iceland’s first World Cup point.
He ripped off his captain’s armband at full-time and offered little more than a blank stare as Iceland’s players acknowledged his presence.
After all, greatness isn’t defined by a single World
Cup performance. Icelandic goalie Hannes Halldorsson still referred to Messi as “the best player in the world” after the game.
But Argentina fans should absolutely be concerned that Messi isn’t just in Ronaldo’s shadow at this tournament. He looks completely disinterested — like he’s here out of obligation.
Ronaldo looked like a man possessed Friday night, a man obsessed with taking a point of Spain. Messi just looked like a man upset.
Just as easy as Ronaldo forgot about his dismal night two years ago in France, it’s easy to forget Messi walked away from international football around the same time. One wonders if he ever truly returned.
One also has to wonder if Messi ran into the wrong opponent to start this tournament.
Iceland isn’t going to win this competition. The World Cup debutants might not advance from the Group of Death.
But the defensive specialists are going to give themselves every chance, in every competition.
Their honest approach has them among the most organized sides at this tournament. They absolutely relish defending and twice stymieing the best players in the world.
“We’re bluntly honest in our ability,” coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said.
“We know how we can win football matches. Against a team like Argentina, it’s just a fact: They have better players.
“If we go one-on-one (with a team like Argentina) you don’t have to ask who’s going to win that game. I think we have a clear identity. Everybody is on board.”
Iceland’s defensive success results from its ability to squeeze the field.
The central midfield tandem of Aron Gunnarsson and Emil Hallfredsson watch what each other are doing as much as they watch plays they’re defending.
Iceland’s wide midfielders pinch centrally and recover behind the ball to limit the amount of time opposing attackers have in the attacking third.
There were times here Saturday night when Iceland’s four midfielders were within 15 metres of each other, and sitting fewer than 10 metres in front of their back four.
But what makes Iceland difficult to beat isn’t just its tactical schemes, it’s that the Nordic nation has the ability to stay locked in and mistake-free for entire games.
It’s why Argentina was eager to resume play when Johann Gudmundsson was forced off injured.
La Albiceleste knew it was their opportunity to penetrate a side that was almost impenetrable with 11 men.
That provided the space Argentina needed to whip in the cross that led to the penalty that was expected to be the match-winner.
“I did a lot of homework,” Iceland goalie Halldorsson said after stoning Messi’s second-half attempt.
Messi’s stoppage-time free kick set up perfectly for the Barcelona legend to answer Ronaldo’s heroics.
I imagine Ronaldo took another sip of his fizzy drink when Messi failed to put the attempt on goal.
He knows this is his tournament.