IT’S OVER TO the Maracanã in Rio for the most highly-anticipated match of the evening.
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Argentina 2-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina
It’s two down one to go on Day 4. Never mind The Sunday Game, The US Open or even an early night… Argentina are about to make their entrance at the 2014 World Cup.
The two-time champions have been widely-tipped to end their 28-year weight to lift the trophy this summer and much will depend on how their talisman Lionel Messi performs over the coming weeks.
Their opponents are Bosnia & Herzegovina — who make their World Cup debut tonight. We’re 40 minutes away from kick-off and the teams are in:
Argentina: Romero, Garay, Campagnaro, Zabaleta, Di Maria, Messi, Rodriguez, Mascherano, Rojo, F Fernandez, Aguero.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Begovic, Bicakcic, Spahic, Kolasinac, Besic, Pjanic, Misimovic, Dzeko, Mujdza, Lulic, Hajrovic.
He’s not starting tonight but this is potentially huge news about Gonzalo Higuin:
Earlier today, riot police used tear gas on a group of protesters in Rio with 500-600 people reportedly involved in the incident. Read more here.
Higuain has been struggling with an ankle injury for a month and in his absence, coach Alejandro Sabella opted for a 5-3-2 formation that saw Maxi Rodriguez preferred to Fernando Gago in midfield.
Bosnia have named Sead Kolasinac at left-back after Sejad Salihovic was ruled out by injury.
Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko will be a lone striker, in a departure from the 4-4-2 system that coach Safet Susic used in their qualifying campaign.
The place is hopping.
And a legend of the game – Juan Sebastien Veron.
And we’re underway.
GOAL! Argentina 1-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina (Sead Kolasinac og)
Disaster for Bosnia. Aguero is fouled and and Argentina free-kick from the right is whipped into a central area. The ball strikes Sead Kolasinac and bounces into his own net. The worst possible start for them.
Here’s that goal:
Misimovic breaks forward though the middle and Mascherano takes him down to concede a free. Argentina deal with the delivery.
Zabaleta is played in down the right from Mascherano but Lulic has tracked him all the way and shepherds the ball out of play.
Chance for Bosnia. Hajrovic controls a ball over the top but Romero is out quickly to get a block in.
Moments later, they win a free-kick 30 yards out but Pjanic can only strike it off the wall.
Marcos Rojo has picked up the first yellow card of the night for a late tackle on Mujdza. The ball in is a good one but Argentina eventually scramble it away.
Argentina are giving possession away cheaply at times here and Sergio Aguero has barely been involved at all.
Mascherano has a pop but doesn’t trouble Begovic. Bosnia have been the more impressive side so far and all of their players looking technically accomplished.
Dzeko, who has been on the periphery of the game so far, picks up possession outside the box but fires high and over the bar.
Romero has just kept Bosnia out with a fine save. Lulic heads a corner towards the top corner but the Argentine keeper is well-place to get a block in.
Half-time: Argentina 1-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina
Speaking on the BBC panel, Juninho describes it as the worst 45 minutes of football in the World Cup so far… and I’d be inclined to agree.
Argentina haven’t clicked at all so far while Bosnia are playing some nice stuff at times but need to get Dzeko more involved as he has looked isolated.
A lot of love for Maradona here tonight.
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Sabella is making a double change — Gonzalo Higuin and Fernando Gago are on in place of Maxi Rodriguez and Hugo Campagnaro.
The substitutions appear to have brought a change in formation from 5-3-2 to a 4-3-3 with Higuain joining Aguero and Messi up top and Gago being tasked with getting on the ball in the middle.
A bit of cheekiness from Rojo, who clears with a rabona. Class.
Half chances at both ends with Misimovic and Aguero the men involved.
Free-kick to Argentina and it’s Messi to take. It’s a poor one, however, and sails harmlessly over. He has been really below par in the opening 65 minutes.
GOAL! Argentina 2-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina (Lionel Messi)
I spoke too soon. A well-worked passage of play in midfield sees Messi gain possession and he advances forward before firing a shot in off the post. Super finish.
Here you are:
Great stat!
Bosnia bring on Ibisevic for Mujdza as they go chasing a couple of goals. 18 minutes on the clock.
Messi clips a ball into Higuain — who has timed his run well. With his back to goal, the Real Madrid striker looks to head in but fails to hit the target.
Argentina break with Messi again and he feeds Aguero on the right. ‘El Kun’ attempts to complete the one-two but that ball is put behind for a corner.
We’ve reached the 90-minute mark.
Full-time: Argentina 2-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina
