This is not going to be about Messi. It was not his day. You can take interpret that any way you wish to.
But what about Iceland? No, not that they, in their first World Cup match, held Argentina to a 1-1 draw, but that every single Icelandic player looks like the perfect specimen of an athlete. Now weirrd, right, that I said that? I appreciate quality.
The Icelandic football was pretty impressive too. At Euro 2006 there was a lot of talk about team unity and good systems, which was code for not very good teams defending well and taking all the fun out of games. But today Iceland demonstrated that they have taken the effectiveness of the unit to a whole new level. Their dentist coach must have worked on a lot of diagrams while his patients were knocked out.
Oh, and Messi missed a penalty. But I won't talk about that. And Sergio Aguero scored a pretty good goal.
Earlier France beat Australia 2-1 in the Italian way, the Italian way where they go on to win the whole thing. The first goal was a penalty awarded after the ref went and watched his glass-case TV on the side of the pitch. Is it bullet proof? What is it with that glass case? Can the ref really get close enough to see the TV? And how does he feel about 45,000 people or so watching him watch the TV? France's second goal was an own goal that barely bounced over the line. Technology was needed again to give them the goal. France are either going to have a Nicholas Anelka player revolt moment or they are going to go on and win the whole thing.
Later, Paolo Guerrero's heroic return couldn't inspire Peru to a win against Denmark. Peru did more than huff and puff. They ran and ran, and created chances that a decent centre forward would have buried. Denmark were Denmark: unspectacular but one chance and, boom, one goal, thank you for trying, good luck with you next match.
And even later Croatia tamed Nigeria with an own goal and a penalty. Hold on. If France don't have their meltdown, does this mean Croatia are going to win this thing?
Tomorrow, enter Brazil and Germany. The football royalty. It's like the day at Wimbledon when Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer play their first match. For some this is when the World Cup starts. This is when the neutrals start watching. There is something special about Brazil play their first match. How good are they going to be? Are they going to be fun to watch? Will Switzerland spoil the party?
This World Cup reporter had better get to bed. It's another early start tomorrow, not 6am like today but 7am after a late night is coming up very soon.
Serbia-Costa Rica, see you soon. Please keep up the good, fun start to this World Cup.
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