'We hope to disappoint Messi & Co'

Iceland striker Alfred Finnbogason pointed to Argentina's failure to gel as a team during the qualifying campaign and said that his side were hoping to disappoint Lionel Messi and Co in the World Cup Group D opener on June 17.

Iceland are preparing to face Argentina in their World Cup debut at Spartak Stadium and Finnbogason said the 1-1 draw his side achieved against Portugal in their opening match at Euro 2016 would inspire them in Moscow.

The Augsburg striker, who came off the bench in that game as Iceland recorded a famous draw, added that stopping Messi would require more of the teamwork that the Nordic island nation became famous for two years ago.

"We know all players of Argentina but you never know how they work as a team," Finnbogason told Omnisport. "They have so many stars. Our strength always is the team.

"We work well as a team together. It is difficult to score goals against us. If we can take the momentum of the Euros to the World Cup it will be difficult to beat us. We aren't a favourite in the group but we will give everything to be able to surprise again."

When asked about Messi, the 29-year-old responded that it would be a pleasure to see the Argentine superstar as angry as Ronaldo was in 2016, but added that he was relieved he would not have much to do on defence.

"I am happy that I am a striker. Maybe I do not need to defend so much against him. But that is the special thing about these big tournaments.

"Also against Ronaldo it was very special. He was so angry after the game that they didn't win against us. I hope that we will disappoint another world star in the first game of the World Cup."

With the World Cup only days away, football fever has gripped the entire nation. Jersey-sellers are doing brisk business as fans flock to shops to buy jerseys of their favourite teams. The photo was taken in Sylhet city's Zindabazar area yesterday. Photo: Sheikh Nasir

Despite their poor form, Finnbogason believes Iceland have improved since their impressive run to the quarter-finals in France, saying: "In the last two years we have developed the style of play as a team and got better. We showed that in our results in the very difficult group which we had in the qualification.

“I hope that we will surprise again. Of course it is our target to go farther than the group stage."