ARGENTINA 2,
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA 1
RIO DE JANEIRO -- It took Lionel Messi just over an hour in Argentina's World Cup opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina to show why so many fans consider him the best in the world.
Argentina's captain bounced back from a frustrating first half and scored in trademark style in the 65th minute on Sunday night, completing a quick 1-2 connection from Gonzalo Higuain and running through defenders before striking a brilliant left-footed shot off the post.
The goal -- the second for Messi on football's biggest stage -- set off wild celebrations among the Argentine fans who turned the famed Maracana stadium into a sea of blue and white. It also energized an Argentina team that was ahead at that point only because of an early own goal by Bosnia.
Vedad Ibisevic scored a close-in goal in the 85th, but Argentina held on to win 2-1 in the Group F match
"It's the first game, I was anxious, nervous," Messi said. "It was important to start with a win. We've got to improve certain things, but it was important to start with the three points."
Bosnia got the worst possible start to its first World Cup when Sead Kolasinovic scored an own goal after three minutes.
Messi sent a free kick from the left flank into the penalty area that Marcos Rojo barely touched before the ball bounced off Kolasinovic's foot into Bosnia's goal.
Bosnia bounced back after the early setback, with Izet Hajrovic slipping through Argentina's five-man defense but failing to beat goalkeeper Sergio Romero. Five minutes before the break, Senad Lulic tested Romero's reflexes with a well-timed header on a corner kick.
Argentina's vaunted attack remained bottled up: Bosnia gave Messi no space to work and Sergio Aguero hardly touched the ball.
Coach Alejandro Sabella put in Higuain at halftime, which allowed Messi to take a step back. That shift proved crucial, getting the Barcelona star more involved in the action.
Messi had made a string impressive runs with Higuain, before he pulled left along the penalty area, and scored after leaping over defender Ermin Bicakic without losing speed and balance.
Messi, who has been accused by critics of not playing with as much heart for the national team as he does for Barcelona, pulled on his blue-and-white striped jersey and ran to the sideline before pumping his fist toward the fans.
"I wanted to release all the energy from other times when things didn't go right [with the national team]," he said. "It's always a pleasure to score with the national team".
GROUP E
FRANCE 3, HONDURAS 0
PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil -- France benefited from the first decisive use of goal-line technology at the World Cup on Sunday when the team was awarded a goal in its match against Honduras, which the French went on to win.
France led 1-0 when Karim Benzema's shot hit the far post and rebounded to Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares, who fumbled the ball into the goal.
The seven video cameras trained on the goal established that the ball had briefly crossed the line by a few inches, alerting the referee on his watch with a flashing "GOAL," before the ball was pushed out again by Valladares.
An own goal against Valladares was awarded, making the score 2-0 to France in the 48th minute.
There was some confusion seconds before when the system showed replays of Benzema's shot hitting the post with the verdict "NO GOAL" before continuing to show the actual goal. The change infuriated the Honduras players, some of whom protested with referee Sandro Ricci, while Honduras Coach Luis Suarez bickered with France Coach Didier Deschamps. At the end of the match, they hugged and made up.
Goal-line technology is being used for the first time at a major international soccer tournament.
Benzema scored France's two other goals.
GROUP E
SWITZERLAND 2, ECUADOR 1
BRASILIA, Brazil -- A goal deep in stoppage-time by Haris Seferovic gave Switzerland a dramatic victory over Ecuador in their Group E opener at the World Cup on Sunday.
In a match that looked destined to end in a draw, substitute Seferovic fired home the winner in the closing seconds.
Enner Valencia had given Ecuador the lead in the 22nd minute at Estadio Nacional in the Brazilian capital.
Switzerland's equalizer followed in the 48th, with Admir Mehmedi heading home from close range.
Sports on 06/16/2014