Algeria at the World Cup

Algeria

 
 

Manager: Rabah Saadane

Captain: Yazid Mansouri

FIFA World Ranking: 26

World Cup Appearances: 3

Best World Cup: Round 1 – 1982, 1986

 

 

 

Profile:

 

For all you youngsters following the summers finals, Algeria, from the African continent, may not be a household name but they are a dangerous outfit and do have several players from the Premiership representing them at first-class level. Hameur Bouazza (Blackpool), Hassan Yebda (Portsmouth) & Kamel Ghilas (Hull City) all ply their trade in the English leagues, while Saadane, the Algerian first team coach, isn’t short of European experience as the likes of Karim Ziani (Wolfsburg) & Mourad Meghni (Lazio), as well as a host of other players, so although Algeria’s low reputation may have potential opponents licking their lips, they do possess several talented individuals and mustn’t be underestimated.

 

Algeria, though, have only partook in three previous World Cup’s, while their last appearance in a finals was way back in 1986. They’ve never managed to bypass the group stage of the tournament but will be hoping to do so this time around after booking their place in South Africa via a play-off with Egypt, in which they weren’t the favourites to qualify. They sprung a surprise then and they do have the potential to be a nuisance this summer, although they will still face an uphill task qualifying from any group.

 

 

 

Key Player:

 

 

Nadir Belhadj –

 

The Portsmouth full-back, although I’ve always been under the impression that he was a winger myself because of his ability to get forward and the fact that he appears to spend more time in the opposing half than his own. Quick acceleration and pace are his main assets, but he also has some quick and nibble feet and can often be seen leaving a defender for dead when sprinting down the flank. Belhadj will need to be watched carefully as he can creep up on any full-back and is a decent crosser of the ball as well.

 

 

Kamel Ghilas –

 

Despite only embracing our screens midway through 2009, Ghilas has already made an instant impact at Hull City and has been a tricky customer when given a run out by Phil Brown at Hull. He isn’t the fastest player in the world but he’s certainly no slouch, but, just like Belhadj, he has quick feet and can take on a defender. The fact that he hasn’t been a regular scorer at club level for Hull may put the manager off him slightly as Saadane does have other strikers with more experience, but against some of the world’s best defenders, perhaps a bit of trickery is what’s needed and Ghilas will certainly provided them with that sort of outlet.

 

 

 

 

Strengths:

 

Algeria aren’t a nation packed full of world class individuals but from the few matches I’ve seen of them, they do look a very dangerous outfit, especially on the break. They have players, mainly down the flanks, that can sprint forward at a tremendous amount of knots, while they do have players who can go pass a defender and provide a decent enough cross. The likes of Balhadj & Ziani, both players who posses pace, will be a threat when striding forward and Algeria do seem to have mastered the art of overlapping, so their flanks is where you want to keep a close eye on.

 

 

Weakness:

 

The end product. We have every confidence that Algeria can be a threat on the counter, and that they do have players who can supply the strikers with some good crosses, but we aren’t totally convinced with their end product. On the rare occasions that we have seen them in action, they didn’t half spur some opportunities and were rash when shooting, often slicing their shots. If a chance does arrive then we would have reservations over whether their strikers could handle the pressure and keep their cool in the clinical situations.

 

 

 

Qualification:

 

 

Sector: Africa

Group: C

Position: 1st

Win-Draw-Lose: 5-1-1

Goals Scored: 10

Goals Conceded: 4

 

 

 

 

Qualifying statistics:

 

 

• This will be just their fourth appearance in a World Cup.

• The last time Algeria were preparing for a World Cup was back in 1986, in which they couldn’t reach the second round.

• Algeria weren’t totally convincing through qualifying and had to book their place in the finals via a play-ff with Egypt, of which they won 1-0 at home.

• Throughout qualifying, Algeria were averaging over 2 yellow cards a game so perhaps discipline is an issue.

• Algeria remained unbeaten at home throughout qualifying, but did only managed one away win.

 

 

World Cup Potential: 1/5

 

 

They could provide a few nations with a few problems but that’s about it. Lively on the break, unconvincing in the final third and too weak in defence. Algeria simply don’t have enough quality within their ranks to compete against the more accomplished nations and should be found wanting at the finals. After all, they could only manage one away victory during qualification, with the vast majoirty of their points all coming on home soil, something which they won’t have the luxury of in Africa, albeit being their continent.

 

 

 

 

Current World Cup Odds: 500/1 SkyBet

World Cup Group C - Table

Rank	Team	Matches / Points
	England	0 Matches / 0 Points
	USA	0 Matches / 0 Points
	Algeria	0 Matches / 0 Points
	Slovenia	0 Matches / 0 Points

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