Argentina complete World Cup preparations with comfortable win over Iceland

[p]The fans in attendance at the Jordan-Hare Stadium were treated to a lively opening 10-minute period that produced one spurned gilt-edged opportunity and the game’s opening goal. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iceland/6TsAIrGN/"]Iceland[/a]’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ellertsson-mikael-egill/4EDOAeYC/"]Mikael Ellertsson[/a] was the individual who fluffed a chance in the early stages, blazing a close-range shot over the bar when it seemed easier to hit the target.[/p][p]Just minutes later, Iceland’s failure to adequately clear their lines from a deep free-kick presented [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barco-valentin/MXX0tUs3/"]Valentin Barco[/a] [b]with the opportunity to wind up a first-time shot from the edge of the box, fizzing it low past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/olafsson-elias/AXTCchy8/"]Elías Rafn Olafsson[/a] at the near post[/b].[/p][p]Barco’s second goal in his last three international appearances was soon followed by a lull in play that abruptly ended when the 21-year-old played a perfectly weighted through ball for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paz-martinez-nicolas/GG6EYRT0/"]Nico Paz[/a], who failed to beat Olafsson at the near post, ensuring[i] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]La Albiceleste[/a] [/i]had to be content with a narrow lead at the break.[/p][image alt="Match Stats" id="73c0b02e-028c-43ac-9554-cbeda7a1a604" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="145e1ad7-1323-4fe4-b5b3-7fa10a570243" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]Two of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/scaloni-lionel/A1A2ibcF/"]Lionel Scaloni[/a]’s five HT substitutes nearly produced Argentina’s second goal just after the hour mark, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mac-allister-alexis/fDPhMB8M/"]Alexis Mac Allister[/a] struck the woodwork from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinez-lautaro/QHk1CXUh/"]Lautaro Martinez[/a]’s clipped pass, not long after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/haraldsson-hakon-arnar/UZDgIuNN/"]Hakon Haraldsson[/a] fired wide at the opposite end of the pitch. [/p][p]Martínez then curled a right-foot shot against the same post that denied Mac Allister before the focus turned to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Lionel Messi[/a]’s long-awaited arrival.[/p][p]Within mere moments of his introduction, Messi’s first touch produced a magical through ball that saw Martinez draw a foul from Olafsson in the box, [b]giving the 38-year-old the chance to whip an unstoppable penalty into the top corner.[/b][/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter-miami/0AheRyBg/"]Inter Miami[/a] star was involved again in Argentina’s third goal, [b]teeing up [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-paul-rodrigo/AZ6TTjDC/"]Rodrigo De Paul[/a] for a squared pass that left [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/almada-thiago/CSKGShgi/"]Thiago Almada[/a] with a simple finish.[/b][/p][p]The reigning world champions ultimately cruised to a seventh consecutive win ahead of their WC opener against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/algeria/nc87N1BR/"]Algeria[/a], while Iceland have plenty of time to reflect upon a six-game winless run until they return to action in September. [/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barco-valentin/MXX0tUs3/"]Valentin Barco[/a] (Argentina)[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/iceland-6TsAIrGN/?mid=hI4787v8"]View the match stats on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]