World at PORTO ALEGRE where people line up to see their sstar performer Lionel Messi who scored a sparkling individual goal and created another as Argentina overcame a faltering performance to opened their World Cup campaign with a 2-1 win over Bosnia on Sunday. France excelled in their opening match with intensity of their speed,skill and technique but neat game too was missing in their squad well neat players are frugal but neat times could be naught.
The Barcelona superstar produced a trademark moment of magic on a night that also saw France beat Honduras 3-0, with the help of the first goal decided by goal-line technology. Switzerland came back to beat Ecuador 2-1.France beat Honduras with their speed and power plus technique but goal-line technology sparks mayhemHordes of Argentina fans helped transform Rio´s famous Maracana Stadium into a corner of Buenos Aires as the South American giants eased past their Group F rivals.
Messi, hoping to secure his status as one of footall´s greats by shining at this World Cup, had a largely quiet game by his high standards.
But the diminutive striker provided the two decisive moments of the match for Argentina´s goals.
Messi´s teasing free-kick caused panic in the Bosnian defence after only two minutes and eight seconds, when the ball came off Sead Kolasinac´s legs and went into his own net, the fastest own goal in World Cup history.
On 65 minutes Messi electrified the 78,800-capacity stadium with a moment of magic, jinking towards the area and unleashing a low shot which flew past Asmir Begovic in the Bosnian goal.
The only blemish for Argentina was a late goal from Bosnian substitute Vedad Ibisevic, who slid his shot below the advancing Sergio Romero. The win puts Argentina on course for the last 16 with games against Iran and Nigeria to come.
Elsewhere on Sunday, France made World Cup history by defeating Honduras 3-0 with the help of the first goal awarded in international football using computer generated 3-D technology.
France beat 10-man Honduras 3-0 in a bruising World Cup clash on Sunday where goal-line technology awarded the first international goal in history, causing mayhem in the process.Three minutes into the second period, the German-manufactured GoalControl system was called into action when a volley from Karim Benzema, who ended the night with two goals, came back off the post.It bounced back into the area before hitting Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares with the ball then diverted back towards the goal.The keeper tried to scoop the ball to safety, but Brazilian referee Sandro Ricci awarded the goal -- classed as an own-goal -- after consulting the instant technology.France, whose 2010 World Cup was a footballing and public relations disaster, dominated the Group E match, twice hitting the woodwork in the first half.
First, Blaise Matuidi fired the ball towards the target but Valladares saved well and pushed the ball on to the crossbar. Then, on the 23 minute mark, Antoine Griezmann, selected ahead of Olivier Giroud, climbed above the defence but headed on to the bar.Stoke City midfielder Winston Palacios was yellow-carded for a brutal stamp on Pogba with the Frenchman also booked for a retaliatory kick.Palacios was then red-carded in the dying moments of the half for another foul on Pogba inside the box.
Benzema converted the resulting penalty for his seventh goal in his last seven internationals.
The Real Madrid striker then played the crucial role in his team´s historic second goal before striking his second of the night from a tight angle in the 72nd minute.
First, Blaise Matuidi fired the ball towards the target but Valladares saved well and pushed the ball on to the crossbar. Then, on the 23 minute mark, Antoine Griezmann, selected ahead of Olivier Giroud, climbed above the defence but headed on to the bar.Stoke City midfielder Winston Palacios was yellow-carded for a brutal stamp on Pogba with the Frenchman also booked for a retaliatory kick.Palacios was then red-carded in the dying moments of the half for another foul on Pogba inside the box.
Benzema converted the resulting penalty for his seventh goal in his last seven internationals.
The Real Madrid striker then played the crucial role in his team´s historic second goal before striking his second of the night from a tight angle in the 72nd minute.