Messi begins bid for first Cup title against Iceland

MOSCOW — Lionel Messi takes the field for the first time in this year’s World Cup on Saturday when Argentina opens group play against Iceland, the smallest nation to ever play in the tournament.

The superstar forward goes into the World Cup under enormous pressure to finally win a major international title. Critics of the Barcelona forward believe that void takes him out of the debate as the best player in the history of the game.

Messi is playing in his fourth World Cup and came close to the title in 2014. Although he was named player of the tournament, Argentina lost to Germany 1-0 in the final. Messi took Argentina only to the quarterfinals in his first two World Cup appearances.

He turns 31 on June 24 during the group stage, and this could be Messi’s final shot at a World Cup title.

Messi will be the headliner of the Group D match at Spartak Stadium in Moscow, but Iceland could have strong fan support after its improbable run to the quarterfinals of the 2016 European Championship. Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson does not mind being the darling of the tournament in its World Cup debut and only second major tournament.

Slovakia in 2010 was the last firsttime World Cup team to make it to the knockout stage of the tournament and Iceland believes it can make a run, as well. Captain Aron Gunnarsson, who sports a long red beard and plays the role of a Viking warrior, leads the postgame, slowbuilding clapping exchange between the team and fans that is Iceland’s trademark and should energize the crowd. A look at the rest of today’s matches:

PERU VS. DENMARK

Peru captain Paolo Guerrero will be the focus in the Group C match at Mordovia Arena in Saransk. The striker was suspended for testing positive for a banned substance and the punishment was going to prevent Peru’s all-time leading scorer from making his World Cup debut. He fought the ban and received support from the captains of France, Denmark and Australia, the three other teams in Group C.

FRANCE VS. AUSTRALIA

France will be the big favorite when it plays Australia in a Group C match at Kazan Arena. France has one of the deepest rosters, but the team has been criticized because some find coach Didier Deschamps’ tactical approach boring. When France lost to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final, many fans were disappointed a coaching change was not made prior to the World Cup.

CROATIA VS. NIGERIA

The Group D match between Croatia and Nigeria will be one of the more overlooked games. Played in Kaliningrad, an outpost wedged between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea, it is a challenging site for fans and tickets were still available the day before kickoff. Croatia made the semifinals 20 years ago in France and is appearing at its fifth World Cup. The team has a talented roster that includes Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic.