Five things we learned: Argentina vs Iceland
Messi shouldn't be taking penalties, Iceland are not just here to make up the numbers and Mascherano makes history. Five things we learned from Argentina's draw with Iceland.
THERE'S MORE TO ICELAND THAN THEIR LONG THROW
They may have famously knocked England out of Euro 2016 with their long throw, but this game saw Iceland play a lot of good football.
Incisive and marauding down the flanks, combative and aggressive in the middle of the park, Iceland are not a team to be taken lightly. There were periods in the game where they outplayed Argentina and with Gylfi Sigurdsson upfront, they have a man with a cool head to steer them through the trickiest of ties.
MESSI SHOULDN'T TAKE PENALTIES
With three misses in his last six and plenty of other goal-scorers in the team, Messi should not take penalties.
So, so clinical in other scenarios, Messi doesn't seem to have the stomach for taking penalties.
In the early days of penalty conversion after penalty conversion, Messi employed an entirely different technique. He would stutter his run, wait for the goalkeeper to make the first move and then place the ball nonchalantly into the opposite corner.
Is it cliche to say he strikes the ball too well? It barely makes sense but the way Messi shapes to strike the ball, it is seemingly apparent where he is aiming for.
Either take the talisman off spot-kicks or at least get him back to basics.
PAVON SHOULD START
The 22-year-old came on from the bench and looked lively, more than lively in fact.
Upon entering the fray, Pavon looked like the only Argentinian player not to be crippled by fear after Iceland's equaliser.
A crisp passer and intelligent run-maker, Pavon steadied the ship and almost steered his side to an unlikely victory.
We know the abundance of talent Argentina have at their disposal, especially in the forward positions but perhaps it is time to be brave with team selection and starting Pavon is at this stage almost a no-brainer.
MASCHERANO MAKES HISTORY
Javier Mascherano became Argentina's most capped player with 144.
There were calls at the beginning of the tournament for Mascherano not to be included in the squad at all.
Now plying his trade in China, it is apparent the Argentine's skills are ayling. No longer able to get up and down the pitch so readily, Mascherano has at times looked desperately exposed.
Having said that, he has contributed so much to European football and won almost all there is to win. So, who did he overtake? Only the legend Javier Zanetti yet it is somewhat ironic to think Mascherano will never be afforded such legendary status despite he impressive achievements.
ICELAND ARN'T JUST MAKING UP THE NUMBERS
It may be their first world cup, but it's clear Iceland are here to make an impact. With a point and a goal already to their name against arguably the hardest team in the group.
Let's see how they fare against Nigeria and Croatia.