Tweet me!Algeria advances with (a) Win versus USA AND Slovenia win/tie versus England - (b) Win versus USA AND Slovenia loss versus England AND makes up tiebreakers on Slovenia. One way or the other, Algerian team's future is in the hands...sorry, the feet of Slovenia's players. But there is that luck that a lot of people do not believe in when it comes to soccer: a coin flip... yes, that can happen, too!
Algeria was defeated by a goal from Slovenian skipper Robert Koren in their opening match. In the second game against the football-inventing English nation, Algeria wasn’t very adventurous going forward but their major aim in this match was to get a clean sheet. They have made themselves and their fans back home proud in keeping the English world class players frustrated for the whole match. Wednesday, June 23 2010 is the day Algeria meets USA on the green field in a decisive game. The same day, at the same time, England plays Slovenia in their last group match which they need to win in any case to keep their title hopes alive. A very high scoring draw will also do for England but only if America and Algeria share points in their last group match. Slovenia only needs a draw from this match for progressing through this group and a possible top spot in the group table. This situation for Slovenia will make things even more difficult for England who has struggled to find rhythm and understanding in their attacking movement. Although Slovenia conceded two goals against USA in counter attacks but they have shown discipline in their defensive side of the game and will make it really hard for England to break them down. Algeria, on the other hand, face a must win situation in their last group match against the USA to extend their stay in the 2010 World Cup till the Round of 16 stage at least.
The post game feedback after UK game was very harsh from the UK fans, and was a little diplomatic and nice from Algerian soccer team members. Wayne Rooney and co never looked like breaking down an Algerian side that had been fired up by Rooney's pre-match comments that England would not need to be at their best to win the match.
"In a World Cup, you always have to respect your opponent," said the Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra.
"We showed that we were worthy of at least a minimum of respect."
Striker Ryad Boudebouz admitted that the Algerians had taken particular pleasure from making Rooney regret his ill-judged pre-match remarks, which included an admission that Nadir Belhadj, the Portsmouth defender, was the only Algerian he had heard of.
"It's true that getting a draw made us particularly happy because of the way the English under-estimated us with their comments in the media in the run-up to the match.
"We put our heart and soul into this match because we were determined to show them that we were not in this World Cup by accident."
The goalless draw has left England needing to beat Slovenia on Wednesday to be sure of progressing to the knockout stages and the Algerians would not be surprised if Capello's squad are forced to book an early flight back to London.
"To be perfectly honest, I expected much better from then," said veteran coach Rabah Saadane, who believes England were taken by surprise by the ease with which Algeria were able to retain possession.
"I don't know what was going on with them. They were better against the United States but they definitely didn't have their best day against us.
"It's up to their coach to draw the conclusions from that, not me, but it is clear that our short-passing game gave them problems."
Portsmouth midfielder Hassan Yebda queried whether Capello had, as many believed prior to the World Cup, got the balance of his midfield right.
Before the U.S.A. - Algeria game, things don't get better. FIFA told the U.S. Soccer Federation on Sunday that the American team can't train at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Tuesday ahead of the game against Algeria the following day."They're protecting the pitch," team spokesman Michael Kammarman said Sunday.Algeria also was barred from practicing there.
Algeria has no fear of the United States at the World Cup. Algeria's surprising 0-0 draw with England saved it from becoming the first team to exit the World Cup. Now the north Africans are targeting a win over the Americans and a spot in the next round.
"If Algeria plays to its potential we don't need to worry about our opponents," midfielder Karim Matmour said Sunday. "If we play our style of football we can beat anyone."
Matmour knows it will be tough against a higher-ranked U.S. team — 14th for the Americans, 30th for the Algerians. The U.S. team salvaged a 1-1 draw against England and then rallied from 2-0 down at halftime against Slovenia for a 2-2 draw.
Algerian teams in the past have featured highly skilled players who did not play well together, and that has hurt them against superior teams.
Now, veteran coach Rabah Saadane has honed the combinations.
"I play for the team. That is every player's job," Matmour said. "Today's football is very physical. Skill is just for the final meters."
But the Desert Foxes will need to turn on the skill when they get within range. They have yet to score at this World Cup, losing 1-0 to Slovenia before the 0-0 draw with England.
Even so, Matmour said the players are drawing confidence from their run at the African Cup of Nations earlier this year. They lost their first match, but recovered to get to the semifinals, where they lost to eventual champion Egypt.
Medhi Lacen, a midfielder who plays for Racing Santander in Spain, said he knew little about the United States before the tournament, but has been impressed by its fortitude so far.
"I've seen their matches here and they look good," he said. "They showed against Slovenia that they're capable of fighting back."
Algeria showed it can handle the pressure of must-win matches when it exacted revenge for its African Cup semifinal defeat by beating Egypt 1-0 in a highly charged one-match playoff in Sudan to reach the World Cup for the first time in 24 years.
And it will attempt to do it again in Pretoria — as a team.
"Our strength is playing collectively," captain Anther Yahia said. "We know if we don't play as a team we can't win."
GROUP C : June 20th 2010
USA advances with:
(a) Win versus Algeria on Wednesday
(b) Tie and Slovenia-England tie IF England does not outscore USA by 2+ goals
(c) Tie and England loss
Slovenia advances with:
(a) Win or tie versus England
(b) Loss AND USA tie vs Algeria
(c) Loss and Algeria win as long as Algeria doesn't make up tiebreakers*
England advances with:
(a) Win versus Slovenia
(b) Tie AND USA-Algeria tie AND outscore USA by 3 goals
Algeria advances with:
(a) Win versus USA AND Slovenia win/tie versus England
(b) Win versus USA AND Slovenia loss versus England AND makes up tiebreakers on Slovenia
Note: If the U.S. draws with Algeria and England draws with Slovenia, and England scores exactly two more goals than the U.S., the U.S. and England would be even on all tiebreakers for second place. The tie would be broken by drawing lots ... aka, a coin flip.
AlgerianAmericans.com June 20th 2010
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