Algeria's previous World Cup finals appearances have ended at the group stage, but Vahid Halilhodzic's side have the potential to spring a surprise.
Friday 6 June 2014 14:29, UK
One of the rank outsiders for the tournament and the most unlikely to progress out of Group H according to the odds, within the Algerian camp there is a real sense that they could cause something of a surprise.
The Fennec Foxes scored more than all but three sides in African qualification, and have a squad made up from clubs such as Valencia, Sporting Lisbon, Porto, Tottenham and Inter Milan.
If the forward line of Islam Slimani, Sofiane Feghouli and El Arbi Hillel Soudani can fire, they will be confident of causing the major upset represented by qualification for the knockout stages for the first time in their history.
Algeria’s Group H fixtures
1. Tuesday June 17: Algeria vs Belgium – Belo Horizonte (17.00)
2. Sunday June 22: Algeria v South Korea – Porto Alegre (20.00)
3. Thursday June 26: Algeria vs Russia – Curitiba (21.00)
Coach: Vahid Halilhodzic
Halilhodzic has unfinished business at the World Cup. In 2010, the Bosnian was head coach of Ivory Coast and had guided the team to South Africa. Just four months before the tournament was due to begin, Halilhodzic was sacked and replaced by Sven-Goran Eriksson in order to have a more experienced name at the helm. The former Lille, Trabzonspor and Paris St Germain manager guided Algeria to the tournament via the play-offs, and has won 14 of his 23 matches in charge. A coach that relies on positional discipline and solidity, he finally has the talent at his disposal to allow his Algeria side to attempt a significant upset in Brazil.
Star man: Islam Slimani
After scoring regularly for CR Belouizdad in his native Algeria, 25-year-old Slimani was given his chance in Europe by Sporting Lisbon, who signed him last summer. Slimani initially struggled to break into the side, starting his first league match in February. However, the striker has still managed to find the net eight times in his 20 appearances, earning something of the super sub tag in Portugal. With nine goals in 17 caps for his country, there is little doubt that he will be leading the line in Brazil.
Tournament Best: Group stage 1982, 1986, 2010
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche (USM Alger), Rais Mbolhi (CSKA Sofia), Cedric Si Mohamed (CS Constantine);
Defenders: Carl Medjani (Valenciennes), Aissa Mandi (Reims), Madjid Bougherra (Lekhwiya), Faouzi Ghoulam (Napoli), Rafik Halliche (Academica), Essaid Belkalem (Watford), Liassine Cadamuro (Real Mallorca), Djamel Mesbah (Livorno), Mehdi Mostefa (Ajaccio)
Midfielders: Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia), Saphir Taider (Inter Milan), Medhi Lacen (Getafe), Abdelmoumen Djabou (Club Africain), Yacine Brahimi (Grenada), Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham), Hassan Yebda (Udinese), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester)
Forwards: Islam Slimani (Sporting Lisbon), Hilal Soudani (Dinamo Zagreb), Nabil Ghilas (Porto).
British based players: Essaid Belkalem (Watford), Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester)
Sky Bet odds: 1500/1
Considered amongst the biggest-priced outsiders of those who made it to Brazil, Algeria would have to defy odds of 4/1 to make the knockout stages for the first time. Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani is the 4/1 favourite to be their top scorer while their best known player, Valencia midfielder Sofiane Feghouli, is 9/1.
