Algeria

Coach: Rabbah Aaadane
Group: C
Region: Africa

The country of Algeria is not known for its football despite their most famous son being one of the most talented players to ever step foot on a pitch. Zinedine Zidane - Algeria’s finest! Well you didn’t seriously think it was a French name did you??

The Desert Foxes will be competing in only their second World Cup having been knocked out in the first round in 1982. Will a similar fate await them this time around? They qualified for South Africa topping a group that contained 2002’s surprise package Senegal and will be outsiders to make their way out of a difficult Group C.

They kick off their campaign on Sunday 18th against fellow outsiders Slovenia. Surely a must-win game if they are to have any real chance of progressing through the group-stages.

Amongst the Algerians’ ranks are some familiar names. Offensive full-back Nadir Belhadj and defensive-midfielder Hassan Yebda were both Portsmouth players last season, a season which saw the south-coast club relegated from the Premiership. The imposing figure of centre back Madjid Bougherra was a dominant figure in last season’s Glasgow Ranger’s side which comfortably won their domestic league.

Algeria will be looking to Rafik Saifi for goals. The 35 year old striker has 60 caps for his country and despite his age contributed some vital goals during the qualifying campaign.
I wonder who Zidane will be backing, his country of birth Algeria or France. One thing’s for sure - at a massive 500-1 to win the trophy with Bet365, England’s second opponents will have few backers at the bookies with those kind of odds!

***Random fact… Algeria’s coach Rabah Saadane has been manager of the African country on FIVE separate occasions***

Algeria’s 23-man squad

Goalkeepers
Lounes Gaouaoui, ASO Chlef
Faouzi Chaouchi, ES Setif
Raid Ouheb M’bolhi, Slavia Sofia

Defenders
Abdelakder Laifaoui, ES Setif
Madjid Bougherra, Rangers FC
Carl Medjani, Ajaccio
Rafik Halliche, Madeira
Antar Yahia, Bochum
Habib Belaid, Boulogne
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


Pete Guest