Tweet me!| Algeria coach Rabah Saadane said: "I think it's a difficult group. It's got teams with lots of experience who have big coaches like Mr Capello at England." |
South Africa treated Friday's draw like a national holiday, closing streets for concerts and festivals. But after the glitzy show filled with African song and dance numbers, leaders of the national teams spoke only of the opponents they now know they have to face.
Here's the draw:
Group A South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
Group B Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece
Group C England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
Group D Germany, Australia, Ghana, Serbia
Group E Holland, Japan, Cameroon, Denmark
Group F Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, Slovakia
Group G Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal
Group H Spain, Honduras, Chile, Switzerland
Algeria coach Rabah Saadane said: "I think it's a difficult group. It's got teams with lots of experience who have big coaches like Mr Capello at England."
"USA are equally a big team, they've already confirmed that at the Confederations Cup by getting to the final against Brazil and by beating Spain.
"It's a group that gives England and the USA an advantage."
"I think England are now a team that can go far in the World Cup because they've always had individual quality but now they've got vigour thanks to Italian Capello."
The Americans will meet Slovenia on June 18 in Johannesburg and Algeria on June 23 in Pretoria. One thing to note: The Americans are 1-9-2 against European teams in the World Cup since 1990. But they are also familiar with these stadiums and the altitude, having played there in the Confederations Cup.
An unavoidable factor in South Africa will be the altitude in some cities. Johannesburg is more than a mile high at 5,750 feet (1,753 meters), while Pretoria is about 4,400 feet (1,341 meters). Many of the American strengths — running hard, counterattacking, playing physically — may be compromised in thinner air.
So Fabio Capello says he knows nothing about Algeria, should he be worried?
Not on the face of it, although they did come through a furiously hostile play-off game against Egypt to book their place, so they won’t just roll over, and coach Rabah Saadane says that’s given them the team spirit to face anybody.
What’s his background?
He’s one of the game’s veteran coaches — at 63 this is his fifth spell in charge of the national team and he’s been to a World Cup with them before, back in Mexico in 1986, so he knows all about altitude. He qualified with them for the 1982 finals as well.
How did they get on?
They famously beat West Germany 2-1 in the first game in 1982, but missed out on a second-round place when the Germans beat a ‘non-trying’ Austria in their final group game. In 1986 they lost to Brazil and Spain but drew 1-1 with Northern Ireland.
Any familiar faces?
Well, Nadir Belhadj, of Portsmouth, and Kamel Ghilas, of Hull, both appear in the Premier League, and Hassen Yebda has also had a couple of games for Pompey. Blackpool winger Hameur Bouazza, who never quite made the grade with Watford and Fulham, is in their squad, too.
Sounds easy so far. Who are the good players we don’t know about?
England wouldn’t mind having their goalkeeper Lounes Gaouaoui, who at 32 will have more than 50 caps by the summer. He’s brave and a good shot stopper, but caught the eye in qualifying by launching attacks with throw-outs.
Anybody else?
Attacking midfielder Karim Ziani has had good reviews for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, and captain Yazid Mansouri, who has played in France all his career, likes a tackle alongside him. Striker Rafiq Saifi has 18 goals in 55 caps, but at 34 is probably past his prime.
How does Fabio find out more?
Book a trip to Angola for the Africa Cup of Nations in January — Algeria play Mali, Malawi and the hosts.
Here's the draw:
Group A South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
Group B Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece
Group C England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
Group D Germany, Australia, Ghana, Serbia
Group E Holland, Japan, Cameroon, Denmark
Group F Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, Slovakia
Group G Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal
Group H Spain, Honduras, Chile, Switzerland
Algeria coach Rabah Saadane said: "I think it's a difficult group. It's got teams with lots of experience who have big coaches like Mr Capello at England."
"USA are equally a big team, they've already confirmed that at the Confederations Cup by getting to the final against Brazil and by beating Spain.
"It's a group that gives England and the USA an advantage."
"I think England are now a team that can go far in the World Cup because they've always had individual quality but now they've got vigour thanks to Italian Capello."
The Americans will meet Slovenia on June 18 in Johannesburg and Algeria on June 23 in Pretoria. One thing to note: The Americans are 1-9-2 against European teams in the World Cup since 1990. But they are also familiar with these stadiums and the altitude, having played there in the Confederations Cup.
An unavoidable factor in South Africa will be the altitude in some cities. Johannesburg is more than a mile high at 5,750 feet (1,753 meters), while Pretoria is about 4,400 feet (1,341 meters). Many of the American strengths — running hard, counterattacking, playing physically — may be compromised in thinner air.
So Fabio Capello says he knows nothing about Algeria, should he be worried?
Not on the face of it, although they did come through a furiously hostile play-off game against Egypt to book their place, so they won’t just roll over, and coach Rabah Saadane says that’s given them the team spirit to face anybody.
What’s his background?
He’s one of the game’s veteran coaches — at 63 this is his fifth spell in charge of the national team and he’s been to a World Cup with them before, back in Mexico in 1986, so he knows all about altitude. He qualified with them for the 1982 finals as well.
How did they get on?
They famously beat West Germany 2-1 in the first game in 1982, but missed out on a second-round place when the Germans beat a ‘non-trying’ Austria in their final group game. In 1986 they lost to Brazil and Spain but drew 1-1 with Northern Ireland.
Any familiar faces?
Well, Nadir Belhadj, of Portsmouth, and Kamel Ghilas, of Hull, both appear in the Premier League, and Hassen Yebda has also had a couple of games for Pompey. Blackpool winger Hameur Bouazza, who never quite made the grade with Watford and Fulham, is in their squad, too.
Sounds easy so far. Who are the good players we don’t know about?
England wouldn’t mind having their goalkeeper Lounes Gaouaoui, who at 32 will have more than 50 caps by the summer. He’s brave and a good shot stopper, but caught the eye in qualifying by launching attacks with throw-outs.
Anybody else?
Attacking midfielder Karim Ziani has had good reviews for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, and captain Yazid Mansouri, who has played in France all his career, likes a tackle alongside him. Striker Rafiq Saifi has 18 goals in 55 caps, but at 34 is probably past his prime.
How does Fabio find out more?
Book a trip to Angola for the Africa Cup of Nations in January — Algeria play Mali, Malawi and the hosts.
Algerianamericans.com - December. 04, 2009
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Algeria won always Hello my name is Sofiane From Algeria I beleive Algeria will won England and USA we have best team and players 1 2 3 viva l'algérie |
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