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Iceland goalkeeper benefits from homework on Messi

Published : 17 Jun 2018, 01:28

DF-Xinhua Report

Goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson of Iceland saves a penalty kick from Lionel Messi of Argentina during a group D match between Argentina and Iceland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Moscow, Russia, June 16, 2018. Photo Xinhua.

Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson, who tipped out Lionel Messi's penalty kick to guarantee a 1-1 finish in Iceland's first-ever World Cup match here on Saturday, said that he is quite familiar with Messi's style of play, the penalties in particular.

"I did a lot of homework, watching a lot of penalties from Messi," Halldorsson said after the game.

"And I also looked back at some of the penalties I had faced and what he might be expecting from me. I had a good feeling he would put it that way," Halldorsson added.

"It's a dream come true for me to have saved that penalty, especially as it helped us gain a point that could be very important for us in trying to qualify from this group," he noted.

Iceland will face Nigeria in their second Group D match in Volgograd on June 22.