Argentina 2 - Bosnia and Herzegovina 1

Photo by Mike Hewitt

Group F favorites Argentina began their tournament finals campaign in Rio de Janeiro at the famed Maracana Stadium against finals debutants Bosnia and Herzegovina. It took less than three minutes for the Dragons to experience pain on the international stage for the first time. An innocuous mishit header from Marcos Rojo caught Sead Kolosinac off-guard, and the ball ricocheted off Kolosinac and into his own net to put Argentina ahead 1-0. After a quiet ten minutes, Bosnia awoke from their slumber. Zvjezdan Misimovic noticed a potential for a run in between the Argentine centerbacks. He hit a twenty-five yard cross into Izet Hajrovic behind the Argentine backline, but Hajrovic could not settle the ball in time to get a shot away. From here on out, both teams had decent chances, but no really dangerous ones appeared until only five minutes remained in the period. Senad Lulic attacked a corner kick and pounded it with his head to the near post, but a desperate dive from Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero pushed the ball to safety. Argentina left the pitch with a 1-0 lead in hand.

A tough, inswinging ball from Hajrovic was cleared by the head of Argentina centerback Federico Fernandez on the doorstep of Argentina's goal to keep the Bosnians at bay a little longer. Lionel Messi provided a moment of genius to extend Argentina's lead. He started his run just shy of midfield. Once he was closed down, he passed to Gonzalo Higuain for a give-and-go play. Messi got the ball back and drove into the half circle and lost his marker Muhamed Besic before firing off the inside of the far post for 2-0. Just when it seemed Argentina would be able to coast to the finish, Bosnia found a higher level of play with under ten minutes to go. They decided to attack the right side of Argentina's defense, and they finally broke the seal on the goal. Vedad Ibisevic had only Romero to beat, but Romero closed him out well. Ibisevic pulled the rabbit out of the hat by hit a supremely accurate slow roller between Romero's legs as the keeper tried to close his 5-hole. Down by only one goal, Bosnia continued to press forward but their efforts were not enough. Argentina win 2-1.

Goals
Argentina
Sead Kolosinac 3 OG
Lionel Messi 65

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Vedad Ibisevic 84

Match Reports:
http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/4/blog/post/1885135/messi-prevails-but-more-tests-ahead
http://soccer.si.com/soccer/planet-futbol/2014/06/15/lionel-messi-world-cup-argentina-higuain-sabella-bosnia-Herzegovina
http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/4/blog/post/1885225/argentina-do-enough-to-beat-bosnia
http://www.espnfc.us/blog/marcotti-musings/62/post/1885181/sabellas-tactics-need-a-rethink
http://www.zonalmarking.net/2014/06/16/world-cup-2014-day-four/ (Daily Summary)

Highlights:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/highlights/match=300186477/index.html