Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Spartak Stadium, Moscow

Image source, BBC Sport

Iceland tamed Cristiano Ronaldo (and annoyed him too) at Euro 2016… so what are their chances of shackling Lionel Messi today?

Their fans certainly seem confident. Pietur, Haoadur, Hjalti, Atli (hopefully I’ve got those spellings right) are all from Reykjavik and missed out on Euro 2016 so they made sure they made it to this particular party.

Pietur says: “We can win!

Haodur says: “We will win!

Hjalti says: “We are not going to take a loss beforehand – it is better to take it afterwards.”

Atli explains: “Before, we win. Afterwards, we might lose.”

Here come the sides out for a warm-up in Moscow. Lionel Messi looks calm and focused, flankedby Sergio Aguero.

Image source, Getty Images

After injury ended his playing career at the age of 19, Jorge Sampaoli turned to coaching and accumulated extensive experience managing clubs throughout South America (in Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Peru), before a brief spell in Spain with Sevilla.

He enjoyed greatest success in charge of Universidad de Chile, winning three league titles and one Copa Sudamericana. As a national team coach, Sampaoli secured Chile a place at Brazil 2014, where they exited on penalties against the hosts in the Round of 16.

He then led the Chileans to victory in the Copa America 2015. On 1 June 2017, Sampaoli resigned with Sevilla to be appointed coach of his native Argentina. Having overseen four matches of Chile's qualifying campaign for Russia 2018 he lead the Albiceleste to that World Cup.

Phil Neville
Former England & Man Utd defender on BBC One

Lionel Messi will score four today. There's that bit inside him and Cristiano Ronaldo that want individual glory. What he saw last night from Ronaldo against Spain would have fired him up for today.

Ah, the old waiting game outside a ground. If you wait long enough, say just after kick-off, the prices will drop right down.

But you could miss a goal!

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Spartak Stadium, Moscow

Lots of Argentina fans here… and lots of them do not have tickets, including Mutaz (right) who is in Russia with his friend (who is on the phone, trying to get a ticket).

Mutaz is one of the lucky ones because he is going to Argentina’s next game, against Croatia in Nizhny Novgorod on Friday, but he was asking pretty much everyone he bumped into outside the stadium whether they had a spare.

Image source, Getty Images

Match of the Day pundit Rio Ferdinand said he "couldn't breathe" as Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick, including an 88th-minute equaliser, as Portugal drew 3-3 with Spain in a classic World Cup encounter.

Ferdinand also reckons his Former Manchester United team-mate has heaped the pressure on long-term rival Lionel Messi to deliver at the tournament in Russia.

"The night was about Cristiano. He is relentless in his pursuit of greatness. What he is doing on the world stage is ridiculous," Ferdinand said.

"A little sub-plot to it is now the pressure is mounted on Messi's shoulders after watching Cristiano here."

Mark Lawrenson
Former Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Iceland were arguably the team of the tournament at Euro 2016. Now they are up against Lionel Messi and it will be fascinating to see how they get on.

Argentina have some issues defensively but, at the other end of the pitch, they have got plenty of players who can potentially win them the game, no matter how well Iceland defend.

Prediction: 2-0

Read the rest of Lawro's World Cup predictions.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Spartak Stadium, Moscow

It's a beautiful day in Moscow and the giant diamond-shaped glass tiles on the outside of the Spartak Stadium are sparkling in the sunshine.

Outside, Argentina fans have arrived in numbers, although not many of the ones I have spoken to had tickets. Armed with dozens of drums, they are certainly making the most noise at the moment...

There are plenty of Iceland fans here too, mind you - up to 20% of their 330,000-population applied for tickets - and there is a real party atmosphere with both sets of supporters mingling for selfies and hugs.

Image source, Getty Images

Heimir Hallgrímsson spent the duration of his playing career in Iceland before he made the switch into management in 1993. He had spells in charge of the men's and women's teams at domestic side IBV before he became Iceland's assistant manager to Lars Lagerback in 2011.

He then became joint manager alongside the Swede and they guided Iceland to historic quarter-final finish at EURO 2016 including a last-16 win over England. Following that tournament, Hallgrimsson assumed sole responsibility for the Icelanders, taking them to their first World Cup.

Hallgrímsson combines his job as manager of Iceland with being a dentist. "Before anyone asks, I’m still a dentist and I will never stop being a dentist," he said.

Bad news for traditional kit fans today - Argentina are going to be wearing black.

Argentina superstar Lionel Messi will turn 31 during the tournament, so will this be his last chance to win it? BBC Sport takes a closer look in this video.

Image source, Getty Images

Run over by his own car. Smashed up a hotel room. Committed a lewd act on a web cam. Argentina midfielder Ever Banega made almost as many headlines off the pitch than he did on it earlier in his career.

However, the two-time Europa League winner with Sevilla has matured to become increasingly influential for Argentina, playing a key role in the qualifiers for Russia.

Banega, 29, hit the headlines in 2012 when he was run over by his own car after leaving the handbrake off at a petrol station, the vehicle rolling back and breaking his leg and ankle.

Other misdemeanours prior to 2014 included wrecking a hotel room in a victory celebration with team-mates.

"Over the years you learn things and experience allows you to develop," he said.

As with any pre-planned live text entry, however - he is on the BENCH.

Both sides have their number 10s on display as Lionel Messi and Gylfi Sigurdsson start. Sergio Aguero and Marcos Rojo also both start for Argentina, with Chelsea stand-in Willy Caballero a (somewhat) surprise starter in goal.

Full XIs to come...

The early, early game (today we have four matches don't forget!) has just finished in Kazan and it was another very eventful one.

France have won it - but they were not at their best and there was some VAR controversy too...

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Whether you want to talk Reykjavik or Rosario, Sigurdsson or Messi, here's the place to be.

You can tweet us at #bbcworldcup or text us on 81111 (UK Only).

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Iceland all-time leading scorer Eidur Gudjohnsen - who retired in September 2017 - is confident their players will not let the country down in their first World Cup tournament.

"It's an historic moment. Since Euro 2016 it's been one success after another," former Chelsea and Barcelona forward Gudjohnsen told BBC Sport.

"I don't think people can start talking about luck any more. We're look forward to hopefully showing the world again we fully deserve to be there."

Iceland are a very hard team - and nation - to dislike aren't they?

Image source, Getty Images

Defender Birkir Saevarsson has prepared for Iceland's first appearance at the tournament by working in a salt-packing factory in the capital Reykjavik to keep him grounded and focused.

Saevarsson, 33, played every minute of every match as Iceland reached the quarter-finals at Euro 2016, Iceland's first major tournament,

"I can't sit down all day and do nothing," right-back Saevarsson said. "It's boring and you just get lazy. I didn't want to get lazy before the World Cup."

Image source, Getty Images

A dream within a dream...