It could have been worse. That was the initial reaction to England drawing Algeria — no Ivory Coast, no Didier Drogba, no supreme goalscorers or tumblers — although Fabio Capello’s African opponents have the benefit of the unknown and made a virtue of obduracy in their qualifying campaign. If England’s progress to the finals was largely serene, they will face battle-hardened players.
Algeria, otherwise known as the Desert Foxes, will be making their first World Cup appearance since taking their leave of Mexico after the first round in 1986. Since then, they have won the African Cup of Nations, but it has taken them a generation to find their way back to football’s elite tournament; their Fifa world ranking of No 28 represents their highest point. Having never faced each other previously, their sea-level, debut meeting in Cape Town will be intriguing. On the face it, Capello has little cause for trepidation; in qualifying, Algeria lost three of their away fixtures and needed a play-off match — against Egypt in Sudan — to ensure their participation, but does that mean that Rabah Saadane’s side should be regarded as grizzled veterans?
In terms of playing style, their unfamiliarity should not be too vexing. Capello’s scouts will inform him that Saadane favours a European shape and tactics and while they have demonstrated guile and ability in reaching South Africa, enough of their players ply their trade on the Continent to ease the work of the Italian’s officials. He will, of course, be able to watch Nadir Belhadj and Hassan Yebda, both of Portsmouth, in person. Other recognisable figures include Hameur Bouazza, once of Fulham and now at Blackpool, and Kamel Ghilas, of Hull City.
As Alan Shearer, the former England captain, put it, “Mr Capello will be delighted”, but, as he has done throughout his stint in international football, the manager will seek to banish complacency from his team. Algeria would pounce upon it; they regard the competition as an opportunity to showcase their nation to the world and, in Karim Ziani and Mourad Meghni, of Lazio, they possess some dangerous talent.
“Our qualification has made it possible for the country to put itself back on the map,” said Saadane, who is known as “Cheik”, or “The Wise”. “It’s a joy and an honour to be at the origin of that. I’m touched to see the happiness we have given our people. It’s a splendid example to have set the young.”
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Saadane has no excuse for not living up to his sobriquet. He has led his national team on numerous occasions, in spells beginning in 1981, 1986, 1999, 2003 and most recently in 2007, but the highlights of his domestic coaching career comprise the CAF Champions League with Raja Casablanca and lifting the Arab Champions League with ES Setif in 2007. Capello will respect his CV, but hardly be in awe of it.
Imperious home form has been the source of Algeria’s recent success and England may have reason to hope that leaving their comfort zone will prompt discomfort.
Tensions with Egypt — to whom they had lost their final group C game, 2-0 in Cairo — made for an absorbing, fraught match on neutral territory, won by Antar Yahia’s superb volley in Khartoum. Yahia, along with Madjid Bougherra and Belhadj are the cornerstone of Algeria’s defence, but midfield, where Ziani, Meghni and Yazid Mansouri excel, is regarded as their great strength. “That’s as good as we could have expected,” Terry Venables, the former England manager, said. “You could have hand-picked that and be happy.”
It is that attitude, forgivable while it may be, that offers Algeria their greatest incentive. Having waited so long to return to the biggest stage, they are promising their supporters grit, optimism and fun. It could yet be a testing combination.
? England v Algeria Never met Players based in England Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth), Hassan Yebda (Portsmouth), Kamel Ghilas (Hull City)