MOSCOW: Lionel Messi admitted it “hurt” after he missed the fourth of his last seven penalties for Argentina and Barcelona in the double world champions’ 1-1 draw Group D draw against Iceland in Moscow Spartak.

The 30-year-old’s second-half spot-kick was pushed away by diving keeper Hannes Halldorsson to keep the World Cup newcomers on terms.

Messi said: “It would have changed the script. It was the advantage. Obviously it hurts me to have missed the penalty. They would have opened a little more and we could have found more spaces.

“We have the bitterness of not being able to take the three points that we deserved. To start with winning is always important, now we have to think about Croatia. We will try to get over this quickly. ”

Messi said Iceland’s tactic’s made it hard for his side claiming “they did not want to play.”

He contributed 11 shots, his personal record in a World Cup tie.

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