The global football extravaganza continues to live up to expectations as audiences around the world continue to be left in awe by the action on the field, and Saturday’s games were certainly no exception.
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When reflecting on the best moments of the match day, one team’s exploits cannot be ignored. Iceland!
Not only were the Northern Europeans, set for their first challenge in uncharted waters, but they were up against a global footballing superpower in Argentina.
With the likes of Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and several other star names on the field, the South American’s would be seen is clear favourites on paper. But Iceland showed on the day that they are not there just to make up the numbers.
Despite falling behind through Sergio Aguero’s strike, Iceland did not allow their head to drop and continued to press in search of an equaliser, and minutes later after falling behind, they were rewarded.
Alfred Finnbogason’s name will be forever be remembered in Icelandic football folklore as not only was his goal Iceland’s maiden goal at the international football festival, but it was also the first goal scored by the smallest nation to ever qualify for the event.
But that was not the end of the drama or Iceland’s heroics as goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson ensured that Iceland would register their first ever point in the tournament as he denied Messi from the spot with a superb stop, leaving the Argentina star gutted.
Nonetheless, Iceland would hold on and claim a famous draw which would have been celebrated like a win, earning them the right to claim one of our KFC Moments of Day spots.
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Meanwhile, in our other KFC Moment of the Day pick, France star Paul Pogba needed to dig deep within himself as he stopped the Europeans from making a meal of their game against Australia. With the scores evenly balanced at 1-1 and with just 10 minutes to go, in typical ‘Pogba style’, the midfielder took it upon himself to rescue France’s blushes as he worked his way towards the box and toe-poked the ball past the Australia goalkeeper.
In what can only be described as a rather nonchalant finish, Pogba’s effort cannoned off the cross-bar and bounced over the line, ensuring that one of the tournament favourites are in pole position to advance to the next round.
