World Cup Betting: Don't be surprised if Algeria throw up a few surprises

Algeria / Ben Lyttleton / 25 May 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Nadir Belhadj makes a fully committed tackle on Mamadou Diallo of Mali. Commitment shouldn't be lacking in the Algeria camp this World Cup.

Algeria may have had a couple of disappointed players after ending up on the losing side in the FA Cup final but their focus is now fully on their World Cup campaign. If they can keep their cool and discipline, they could make life pretty difficult for their Group C rivals.

"Saadane was part of the backroom coaching staff when Algeria stunned West
Germany in 1982 and he was coach at the team's last World Cup match in 1986
as well. His experience is bound to help the squad, who need the important
players like Bougherra, Mourad Meghni and Belhadj to be fully-fit in time
for that match against Slovenia."

It was the biggest match of Portsmouth's season and arguably two of their most important players were not able to start. Midfielder Hassan Yebda had a back strain and ruled himself out, while Nadir Belhadj thought he had recovered from a thigh injury but was left on the bench.

"I was ready to play and felt no pain, so I was disappointed to miss out," he said. He did come on for the last ten minutes, during which time he struck two searing crosses from left-back. For Belhadj, the disappointment of ending his Portsmouth career on that note has already lifted: this week he is with his Algeria team-mates preparing for Friday's friendly against Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

Yebda has declared himself fit but might not be risked while Algeria will also be missing key defender Madjid Bougherra for the Ireland clash, which they are ([3.05]) to win, with Ireland ([2.12]). For coach Rabah Saadane, the only African boss in charge at the World Cup, this is a crucial period in the preparations before the games kick off in under three weeks time. The Group C fixtures are also favourable to Algeria: they start against Slovenia, and a win could give them momentum against England, their second opponents, and USA.

"This Algeria team has good potential and if things go our way, we are capable of good results," Algeria's most famous player from their glory days of the 1980s, Rabah Madjer, told betting.betfair.com, pointing to their African Nations Cup win over Ivory Coast as proof. "That win corresponds to our mentality: when the Algerians decide to play a great match, they do it, and when the Algerians decide to be a great team they are."

It also shows they are better suited to playing as underdogs ­ also proved by their 3-0 loss at the hands of Malawi in Angola earlier this year. Algerians often cite their 1-0 defeat to Brazil back in the 1986 World Cup as proof that they have never been humiliated on the big stage, and so it's worth bearing in mind the Under-2.5 Goals market against England. "The Ireland match on Friday will be a good indicator of our level and we¹ll then see how good we can be," added Madjer, who scored in Porto's 1987 European Cup final win with a back-heel.

Saadane was part of the backroom coaching staff when Algeria stunned West Germany in 1982 and he was coach at the team's last World Cup match in 1986 as well. His experience is bound to help the squad, who need the important players like Bougherra, Mourad Meghni and Belhadj to be fully-fit in time for that match against Slovenia.

If they all play, then their ([3.25]) price looks a generous one against their European opponents. "We all think that Saadane brings luck to the team," explained Algerian reporter Nabil Djellit. "And though we sometimes disagree with his choices, there is no getting away from the fact that he is our figurehead, and nicknamed ŒCheikh, the wise man, for a reason."

Algeria are the longest-priced ([5.0]) to qualify from Group C and while that may be beyond them, they could yet cause a shock or two along the way. The message from Madjer is clear: write them off at your peril. "We have enough talent to do great things in South Africa ­ and if no-one gives us any chance at all, then that will only motivate us further."

For a full team guide of Algeria please go here

Tags: Algeria football team, Algerian footballers, Greoup C World Cup, Madjid Bougherra, Nadir Belhadj, Rabah Saadane