Messi's penalty miss not to blame for Iceland draw: Maradona

June 18, 2018 14:10 IST

'I missed five penalties on the spin and I was still Diego Armando Maradona. I don't think that they dropped two points because Messi missed a penalty.'

Lionel Messi

IMAGE: Lionel Messi saw his spot kick saved by goalkeeper Hannes Por Halldorsson as Argentina failed to defeat Iceland. Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Diego Maradona says Lionel Messi's second-half penalty miss was not the reason Argentina failed to defeat Iceland at the World Cup on Saturday.

Messi saw his spot kick saved by goalkeeper Hannes Por Halldorsson after Alfred Finnbogason had cancelled out Sergio Aguero's 19th minute opener.

"I don't blame the players," Maradona told Venezuelan television channel Telesur.

Coverage: FIFA World Cup 2018

"I could blame the lack of work rate. But I can't blame the players, much less Messi, who gave it all he had.

"I missed five penalties on the spin and I was still Diego Armando Maradona. I don't think that they dropped two points because Messi missed a penalty."

Argentina take on Croatia on Thursday before their final group game against Nigeria next week.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Source:

© Copyright 2025 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.