SportsWallah

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi said he regretted having squandered a second-half penalty try that could have led his team to victory over Iceland in Group D action on Saturday at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The match at Otkritie Arena in Moscow, which featured two first-half goals, ended in a 1-1 draw. "It hurts to have missed the penalty, because it would've been the decisive advantage," the FC Barcelona talisman said after the game, though adding the draw had not dampened the team's hopes in Russia. "We haven't lost hope despite the draw. We still have the same desire. I think we deserved to win. We tried to find spaces in the Iceland defence, but we couldn't find them," he added. Messi denied that the draw would affect the team in its next Group D contest Thursday against Croatia, adding that "we have some days to rest and get well-prepared for the match." "We weren't thinking about starting with one point from the first match, but it's the first match. No one gives anything away. It's a very even World Cup and you're seeing that, because all the games are very close," he added. Argentina took the lead when Aguero deftly controlled a bullet pass from Marcos Rojo before turning and unleashing a wicked left-footed shot that barely allowed Halldorrson to react as it cannoned into the top left corner. The equaliser came four minutes later after Gylfi Sigurdsson's rasping effort forced a lunging save from Caballero. The rebound fell to Finnbogason, who hammered in from close range. Despite Argentina's control of possession, Iceland looked more likely to score. Sigurdsson twice had chances to give his side the lead just before halftime -- first with a 15-yard strike that again tested Caballero and then by flashing a volley narrowly wide. Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega replaced Lucas Biglia in the 54th minute and the change made an immediate impact as Iceland were pushed deeper. Messi also became more influential. It was his inviting cross into the area that led a disorientated Hordur Magnusson to clatter into Maximiliano Meza. Polish referee Szymon Marciniak pointed to the spot and the scene seemed set for another Messi rescue story for his country. But the five-time Ballon d'Or winner appeared to hesitate before prodding a tame spot-kick that was parried away by Halldorsson. Messi had further chances to score as Argentina pressed relentlessly in the final minutes. The No. 10 sent a free-kick over the bar and lashed long range attempts with either foot just wide of the target.