Algeria’s World Cup qualification route was full of incident but there are big question marks whether they can produce in South Africa.
There is a strong African line-up at the World Cup, although it would arguably have been even more fearsome had Egypt, winners of the last three African Cup of Nations, and Algeria's conquerors in this year’s semi-finals, also made it through.
But they didn’t, and that was down to Algeria. The two were drawn together in the final qualifying group, and Egypt’s 2-0 win over Algeria forced a play-off between the two sides as they finished level in the group. Algeria triumphed 1-0 in this match to oust their big rivals.
That was a huge stride for Les Fennecs (the Desert Foxes) given that they couldn’t even manage qualification for the last two African Nations Cup finals in 2006 and 2008. Whether they can make waves in a group containing England, USA and Slovenia remains to be seen, but in the likes of goalkeeper Lounes Gaouaoui, defender Madjid Bougherra and midfielder Karim Ziani they have players capable of making the difference.
Quick Facts:
- Best World Cup Result: First-Round (1982 and 1986)
- Best African Nations Cup Result: Winners (1990)
- Record Scorer: Abdelhafid Tasfaout (34 goals between 1990 and 2002)
- Most Capped Player: Lakhdar Belloumi (147 caps between 1978 and 1989)
- Coach: Rabah Saadane
- Captain: Yazid Mansouri
23-man Algeria World Cup Squad:
Goalkeepers: Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO Chlef), Faouzi Chaouchi (ES Setif), Raid Ouheb M'bolhi (Slavia Sofia)
Defenders: Abdelakder Laifaoui (ES Setif), Madjid Bougherra (Rangers), Carl Medjani (Ajaccio), Rafik Halliche (Madeira), Antar Yahia (Bochum), Habib Belaid (Boulogne Sur Mer), Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth), Djamel Mesbah (Lecce)
Midfielders: Hassan Yebda (Portsmouth), Medhi Lacen (Racing Santander), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient), Adlene Guidoura (Wolverhampton), Riad Boudebouz (Sochaux), Djamel Abdoun (Nantes), Foued Kadir (Valenciennes), Karim Ziani (Wolfsburg), Karim Matmour (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Forwards: Abdelkader Ghezzal (Siena), Rafik Djebbour (AEK Athens), Rafik Saifi (Istres)
Group Matches:
Sunday, June 13, 2010 v SloveniaFriday, June 18, 2010 v England
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 v USA
Prediction: First-Round
Rabah Saadane’s men took many by surprise by qualifying, but the fun surely stops there. The team comprises almost solely European-based players, and they may give Slovenia a good game. But England and the USA both have strong defenses and enough up-front to ease past the Algerians by a couple of goals.To find out more about the tournament, visit the World Cup section.
