Algeria
Algeria - Group H (Belgium, Russia, Korea)
Apart from a glorious entry into World Cup football in 1982 Spain, Algeria has been pretty ordinary at the world stage rarely making any mark. Impressive display during the qualifiers would instill hope amongst the team with their aim at Brazil would be to survive the group
Profile
Algerian football started before the nation was born, in the form of the breakaway FLN team supporting the independence movement. Nowadays, they are famous for their fierce rivalry with Egyptian team
As a norm with the African teams, Algeria delivers well from long range and are vulnerable to set pieces. Their preference to flank play may serve them well but have to be wary of headers from the opponents
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Confederation: CAF (Africa)
Coach: Vahid Halilhodzic (BIH)
FIFA Ranking: 25 (8-May-2014)
Nickname: Les Fennecs (The Fennec Foxes)
Key Players: Silmani, Feghouli, Lacen
Legends: Belloumi, Zitouni
History - Impressive Entry
Their first world cup began with a resounding victory over the powerful West Germany, then European Champs, and it ended with West Germany and Austria conspiring to go through together to the next round, thereby knocking out Algeria. They have since played two more cups in 1986 and 2010 with little impact. Algeria is a onetime African Nations champion, in 1990
How They Qualified
Algeria topped their Group against Mali, Rwanda and Benin, they faced the impressive Burkina Faso in the play-offs. They came back from a 3-2 away loss and qualified on away goals after winning 1-0 at home
Prospects - Tricky Group
Though they are bound to struggle against Belgium, Algeria have a fighting chance if they bring their wide attacks into play. Still they might end up behind Russia with a clash of strengths on display
Squad
Algeria's final World Cup Squad was announced by Halilhodzic on June 2
Goalkeepers:
Rais M'bolhi (CSKA Sofia), Cedric Si Mohamed (CS Constantine), Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche (USM Alger)
Defenders:
Essaid Belkalem (Watford), Madjid Bougherra (Lekhwya Club), Liassine Cadamuro (Mallorca), Faouzi Ghoualm (Napoli), Rafik Halliche (Academica Coimbra), Aissa Mandi (Stade Reims), Carl Medjani (Valenciennes), Djamel Mesbah (Livorno), Mehdi Mostefa (AC Ajaccio)
Midfielders:
Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham), Yasine Brahimi (Granada), Medhi Lacen (Getafe), Saphir Taider (Inter Milan), Hassan Yebda (Udinese)
Forwards:
Abdelmoumene Djabou (Club Africain), Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia), Nabil Ghilas (Porto), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester), Islam Slimani (Sporting Lisbon), Hilal Soudani (Dinamo Zagreb)
May 12: Vahid Halilhodzic announced a 30-man provisional squad for Algeria
May 12: Vahid Halilhodzic announced a 30-man provisional squad for Algeria
Fixtures
Belgium vs Algeria on June 17 at Belo Horizonte
Korea vs Algeria on June 22 at Porto Alegre
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