It is a David versus Goliath story as mighty Argentina take on Iceland in their FIFA World Cup 2018 Group D match today (Saturday). The Lionel Messi-led Argentina are among the global football power houses. However, there are reasons good enough for fans to back minnows Iceland, too.
The opening match of Group D at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium will see opposites collide as FIFA World Cup veterans meet one of the tournament’s debutants. Two-time world champions and 2014 runners-up Argentina are in their 17th FIFA World Cup finals, while Iceland – the smallest of all 32 nations by population with just under 335,000 inhabitants – are making their first FIFA World Cup appearance ever.
Despite their vast experience and an attacking line-up led by Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Sergio Aguero, La Albiceleste have struggled for a ticket to Russia for the FIFA World Cup 2018. Jorge Sampaoli’s side had to wait till the match-winning hat-trick from Messi in their last FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifier against Ecuador.
Ireland, after reaching the quarter-finals of UEFA EURO 2016, have celebrated another major success by making it to the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time ever. Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men swept aside teams like Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey en route to Russia. Their campaign was all the more remarkable for its efficiency, with Iceland needing just 16 goals to qualify – fewer than any other group winner.
Fans and football pundits are terming this match as classic David vs Goaliath match. One team full of multi-millionarire stars and captained by the highest paid football player in Forbes’ top 100 highest paid athletes list this year. Other team comprises little-known faces of world football. Still, the team with no big names, without any great pedigree or tradition will start their FIFA World Cup 2018 journey as fan’s favourites.
But why? Here are the four strong reasons that drive fans sentiments to have a faith and belief in FIFA World Cup debutants.
Argentina vs Iceland: 4 reasons why minnows Iceland are fans favourite
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