Algeria are a good team, so are Slovenia, but the North African nation of Algeria is often overlooked. Not typical of the idea of African football and the excitement of Roger Milla et al but not aligned to the European or South American games the achievements that are are overlooked.
Many of the players Algeria field are born in France from African parents but have the allegiance to their country as the Irish players born in England did in the 1990s and no less – if not more – passionate because of this. When Pele suggested that an African team would win the World Cup before 2000 he probably did not mean Algeria but when Algeria extracted Zinedine Zidane and France lifted the trophy in ’98 the Brazilian’s statement was justified in a way.
The current Algerian side lags behind Egypt in North African football at the moment – their neighbours won the Cup of Nations – and so qualification for the World Cup was something of a surprise but not a shock. They are in their third World Cup.
Slovenia as a modern nation are in their first World Cup having knocked out The Czech Republic in the group and Russia in a play off to qualify as runners up to Slovakia although they could claim the record of Yugoslavia.
Neither team is given much of a chance of qualifying from a group that contains USA and England but the draw between those teams last night – this is the first pair of games in which one set of players have had the time to digest the result of the other group match – gives the winner of this game the chance to top the group. The outcome is an encounter where both teams are presented with both a first game, and a best chance, simultaneously.
Such pressure frustrates the game initially with a half hour of ineffective football as both teams look to establish a footing rather than take the mis-steps that could point to an early elimination. In time the game opens up with Nadir Belhadj making play on the right hand side feeding Rafik Halliche who could have done more with his headed chance. At the other end Valter Birsa stings Faouzi Chaouchi palms with a long range shot.
It is said that no one wins the World Cup in the first game but some can lose it. Half time and no one has lost so far. This patten continues in the second half despite both side’s bringing on strikers albeit only briefly for Algeria who throw on Abdelkader Ghezzal and see him sent off within fifteen minutes for one tugged shirt and one attempt to control the ball with his hand.
Ghezzal can consider himself harshly treated being sent off for he two offences he has committed – the word “persistent” features in the rules around yellow cards and by definition two offences are not that but it seems that increasingly Referees are keen to book for all offence which if unseen can pervert the game.
A handball control – as seen from Thierry Henry in qualifying – can damage the fabric of fairness in the game while a tugged shirt is often invisible to officials but often extremely negative for the game. Like diving and other simulations if seen and certain then for the good of the game yellow cards should follow.
Ghezzal is unlucky because few Referees are as stern as Guatemala’s Carlos Alberto Batres but the Algerian bad luck continues as goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi goes to field a simple, almost ineffectual shot by Robert Koren but allows the ball to pass through him and into the goal to give Solvenia the lead.
Group C: The group of base goalkeeping comedy.
The Algerians chase the game with ten men but with little chance of reward. They face a game with group seeds England on Friday knowing that defeat means elimination. The build up for the World Cup can take far longer than the event itself.
Slovenia though go onto a match with USA – who did little to suggest that could be relied upon to qualify in second position – knowing that a win will see them continue the remarkable progress of an unremarkable side.