World Cup

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Attendance: 44,190

World Cup | Group Stage

Jun 16, 2018 at 2pm UK

Argentina
1-1
Iceland Iceland

Aguero (19')

FT(HT: 1-1)

Finnbogason (23')

Heimir Hallgrimsson: 'Iceland have clear identity'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 16 June 2018

Iceland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson states that his players are "bluntly honest" about their abilities and know how to play football to their strengths.

Iceland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has stressed that his players are "bluntly honest" about their abilities but they know how to play football to their strengths and in line with their "clear identity".

The Strakarnir Okkar won plaudits for their performances at Euro 2016, in which they reached the quarter-finals, and have followed up their exploits in France with a 1-1 draw against Argentina in their first game at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Although Argentina boasted 78% of possession and let rip with 27 efforts, they could not muster a response to Alfred Finnbogason's 23rd-minute equaliser following Sergio Aguero's early opener.

"We played our defence brilliantly, we knew that they would have 60% or 70% possession and it is difficult to defend against that. But all credit for their hard work," Hallgrimsson told BBC Sport at full time. "There was nothing in their game that surprised us.

"We are bluntly honest about our ability, we know how we can win football matches. It is just a fact that Argentina have superior individuals with superior skills and if we go one-on-one with them you don't need to ask who will win the game. We have to play in a special way and we have a clear identity."

Iceland return to action on Friday when they take on Nigeria.