Good evening and welcome to live coverage of the Group F clash between Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina at the famous Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. It's a showdown that sees one of the tournament favourites, boasting a rich World Cup history, against a side playing at their first ever finals. The Bosnians are hoping to become the first debutants to win their maiden game since Senegal's triumph over France in 2002. The last time Argentina lost their opening game was against Cameroon back in 1990.

Sounds like more adventures tonight for Reda!

STAT: Prior to tonight, La Albiceleste have only mustered two wins in their last nine World Cup games against European sides, drawing four and losing three.

It's not been a tournament for defenders so far!

Argentina don't exactly deal with the corner with aplomb and Sergio Romero is forced to get a tame punch on it to clear.

But here's a free kick on the right. A chance to clear their heads and try to exploit the frailities in the Argentine defence... It's driven in towards Dzeko but cleared for a corner.

Messi delivers into the six-yard box and Bosnia are a bit tentative but eventually clear. It's been the worst possible start for them.

Bosnia caught out on the break once again as Aguero looks to wriggle free in the box. Great tackle. Corner ball to Argentina.

GOAL! Argentina lead! Messi's free kick from the left is flicked on by Marcos Rojo and deflects in off an unwitting Sead Kolasinac. So unlucky!

This is a HUGE deal in Bosnia.

Tonight's referee is Joel Aguilar from El Salvador.

KICK OFF! Argentina get the match underway.

Here we go then, on the eve of the Maracana's birthday... are we about to see something special to mark the occasion?

Is this Messi's time? As the Argentina anthem concludes, the focus of the world will soon turn to the diminutive attacker that some say needs to have a big impact at a finals to truly be regarded as the best ever.

The Maracana is all set as the players emerge from the tunnel. It's a sight to behold... What an arena.

But don't rule out Dzeko and Bosnia. They are a very dangerous side in attack and these fans are gearing up for an upset.

The Argentina fans are ready for Messi to make his mark!

DID YOU KNOW? Argentina have the oldest squad at the World Cup with an average age of 28.9 years... Some would say that's a pool of players in the prime of their careers. Can they snare a third world title on the home soil of their greatest rivals? Tonight will give us an idea of just how serious their credentials are.

An Argentina legend watches on as kick off creeps nearer...

NOW THIS IS A STAT! Bosnia coach Safet Susic was once a gifted forward who scored 21 goals in 54 internationals for the former Yugoslavia, including a hat-trick in a 4-2 friendly win over Argentina in Belgrade back in 1979.

Ezequiel Garay is keen for Argentina to put their last World Cup performance behind them after their 4-0 hammering against Germany put paid to their hopes in 2010. He said: "We know what happened, it's in the past. We won't repeat that. Obviously, we have a very offensive team, but we know our rivals are strong, so we will be defending well also and doing the dirty work... We mustn't be impatient in our first game against Bosnia. They have good, tall players. We need to avoid corners and set pieces. But we are Argentina and we have to go out to win. We fear no one."

HEAD-TO-HEAD: The sides have only met twice before with Argentina winning both matches. Sergio Aguero scored both goals when La Albiceleste beat the Dragons 2-0 in a friendly in the US city of St Louis last November. A Gabriel Batistuta treble was the highlight of a first meeting back in 1998 when Argentina roared to a 5-0 success. It remains Bosnia's heaviest defeat in international football.