Iceland have a shot inside the first 20 seconds. That's the stuff. Gylfi Sigurdsson plays a one two and tries a dig from 20 yards but he doesn't get hold of it at all.

Away we go!

Argentina have topped their group in each of the last three World Cups. They have also won their opening game in each of the last six editions.

No pressure...

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Spartak Stadium, Moscow

Image source, BBC Sport

The whole stadium has been getting excited whenever Messi appears on the giant screens. Here's their first glimpse of the maestro himself...

Anthem time - Iceland's "Lofsöngur” (hymn) is often known by its opening line “O, God of Our Land”.

Though beautiful when performed well, some Icelanders describe it as “unsingable” because of the vocal range it requires. It was written by the Reverend Matthias Jochumsson in 1874 to celebrate the millennial anniversary of Iceland’s settlement. The anthem contains three stanzas but, mercifully for Iceland’s footballers, only the first is performed.

Tim Vickery
BBC Sport South American football expert

This is the last chance saloon. Argentina have not won a senior title since 1993. This generation has reached three consecutive finals, the World Cup in 2014 and the Copa America in 2015 and 2016 - they lost them all.

In the culture of South American football, losing a final is the worst you can do. It is the toilet seat hanging around their neck. This is theory is the last chance, the last chance we see Messi, Aguero and Di Maria at their international peak

Argentina's haul of 19 goals in the South American World Cup qualifying is their lowest return in a campaign since the tournament first adopted the single-group format ahead of the 1998 finals.

A huge cheer rings out at the first sight of Lionel Messi hits the screens. Every member of the Argentina team and staff line up to give Javier Zanetti a kiss in the tunnel.

England fans may recall the Inter legend scoring a beauty in 1998...

Almost game time. The players assemble down in the tunnel area...

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Spartak Stadium, Moscow

I've just witnessed the first Icelandic thunderclap of this World Cup. It ended with the rest of the stadium - which is 80% Argentina - giving them a standing ovation.

In the first game today, France beat Australia 2-1, helped by a penalty awarded via the VAR official.

Australia coach Bert van Marwijk said: “We showed guts and we could be ourselves, but the next game is another game and this gives us confidence. The French did not know what to do for large parts pf the game, but France is not my problem and I will not talk about them. I wish them luck.”

On the French penalty, he said: “I haven’t seen it back on television, from my position I could not see it really well but at first I thought it was no penalty. The body language from the referee was that he didn’t know and you have to take a decision – France or Australia.

“From 10 people, seven say penalty and three say no penalty. It is very difficult for a referee to decide. He was standing very close to the moment and he directly said no penalty.

“Everybody is talking about the VAR but for me it is the start and we have got to learn a lot about this system, but I prefer to say something about the game, that is much more important and I can’t change the decision.”

I can confirm the atmosphere in Moscow is booming. A man with a zebra's head is leading the cheerleading in the Argentina section. Say no more.

Image source, EPA

iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson only turned pro five years ago and he directed a

Coca-Cola advert just two weeks before the start of this World Cup. Until turning professional,

Halldorsson would work as a film director from 8am until 4pm and train from 5pm until 8pm. He used to take his laptop with him during journeys to away games in order to edit his films.

Which makes facing Messi & Aguero look like easy work really doesn't it?

Image source, Getty Images

Despite his success with Barcelona, Lionel Messi still has not won a major honour with Argentina. The forward turns 31 on 24 June so is this his last chance to add the game's biggest prize to his glittering list of achievements?

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has even hinted he could retire from international football after the tournament, saying last week that "it will depend on how far we go".

After scoring seven of Argentina's 19 goals in qualifying, including a hat-trick to clinch their place in Russia, the Barca forward remains pivotal to the Albiceleste's hopes of winning the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

Without him they were beaten 6-1 in a friendly against Spain in March and they have only played once since, beating Haiti 4-0, with Messi scoring another treble.

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 live

Iceland are such a hard-working side. They have Alfred Finnbogason up front and they will use him and his physique as much as possible. They may only have a few opportunities from set pieces, but get Gylfi Sigurdsson on the ball and he will put pressure on Argentina.

It looks like a gloriously sunny afternoon in Moscow and the Spartak Stadium is filling up nicely. What a way for Iceland to start their World Cup careers...

Duffman: Messi needs to bang in a brace of goals today to stay on par with Ronaldo.

Ibsy: Whilst you have to love Iceland, unfortunately you need to be realistic. Should be a walk in the park for Argentina.

Lionel Messi dragged Argentina through qualifying almost single-handedly.

With him they suffered one defeat in 10 games; in the eight matches he missed, they won once.

He netted four times at the last World Cup, but not in the knock-out stage.

Image source, Getty Images

Understandably, Messi creates devotion in his countrymen (and women).

He passed 600 goals for club and country in March and is effectively two players in one, scoring at the rate of an elite poacher while racking up passing stats to rival top creative midfielders; he recorded the joint-highest total of assists in La Liga this term (12) and was second in key passes per game (2.4).

Image source, BBC Sport

Plenty of familiar faces out there for Premier League fans. Javier Mascherano gets the nod in midfield while Sergio Aguero is preferred to Gonzalo Higuain up top.

Argentina: Wilfredo Caballero, Eduardo Salvio, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Tagliafico, Lucas Biglia, Javier Mascherano, Maximiliano Meza, Lionel Messi (capt), Angel di Maria, Sergio Aguero

Image source, BBC Sport

Iceland have Burnley winger Johann Gudmundsson, Aston Villa midfielder Birkir Bjarnason and Everton playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson in their team.

Iceland: Hannes Halldorsson, Hordur Magnusson, Kari Arnason, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Birkir Savarsson, Emil Hallfredsson, Aron Gunnarsson (capt), Johann Gudmundsson, Birkir Bjarnason, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Alfred Finnbogason

Luckily for Iceland fans you can get a flight to Moscow for the same price as a round in downton Reykjavik. There will be plenty of them in the arena this afternoon.