Algerian National Team News

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Cap Vert - Algérie aujourd’hui à 18h à Praia

Today at the Vazia stadium, Praia, at 6 pm - Cape Verde versus Algeria

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Samedi 2 juin 2007 -- Conscient de la tâche difficile qui attend l’équipe, d’autant plus que l’adversaire du jour jouera ce soir pratiquement ses dernières chances dans cette compétition, le défenseur Ismaïl Bouzid affirme qu’il faudra se montrer très solide derrière, tout en procédant par des contres rapides.

Il est fort à parier que le staff technique optera pour le même schéma que celui appliqué lors du match disputé il y a plusieurs mois à Conakry face à la Guinée. Certes, Jean-Michel Cavalli devrait composer son groupe sans Nadir Belhadj (suspendu) et Hameur Bouazza (retenu en raison de la maladie de son père) ainsi que Lazhar Hadj Aïssa (blessé et qui n’a pas fait le voyage avec l’équipe).

Néanmoins, il va récupérer le défenseur de Bochum Antar Yahia, qui vient de purger sa suspension de deux matches. L’Algérie devra donc évoluer avec une défense renforcée, où l’on devra retrouver Bouzid, Meniri Bougherra, Antar Yahia et Zarabi.

Le milieu sera en principe tenu par Mansouri, Ziani et Saïfi, alors que Deham devrait être associé avec Amri Chadli ou Ghilès en attaque. Le poste de gardien de but sera assuré comme prévu par Gaouaoui. L’équipe nationale s’est entraînée sur le terrain principal, qui devra abriter la confrontation de ce soir et qui, rappelons-le, est en tartan, avec une capacité de 4 000 places seulement, et ce jeudi et hier.

Il faut noter que Meniri et Mansouri n’ont pas pris part à l’entraînement de jeudi. Ils ont été ménagés en raison de douleurs musculaires pour le premier et de douleurs à la cheville pour le second. Même si l’adversaire est décidé à s’imposer, les Algériens ne semblent par être impressionnés par cette formation qui a montré de belles dispositions à Alger.

Bien au contraire, les Verts sont plus que jamais décidés à revenir avec un résultat qui les rapprocherait davantage de la qualification à la phase finale, qui aura lieu au Ghana en 2008, comme l’a affirmé Ziani avant le départ de l’équipe d’Alger.

A noter que le trio d’arbitres sera composé des Ivoiriens Aboubacar Sharaf, Tehe Guei Lucien et Bayere Moussa. Le coup d’envoi sera donné à 18 h heure algérienne (16 h heure locale).

Ce soir, l'équipe nationale affrontera le Cap-Vert à Praia :
Si les Verts gagnent, ils se qualifieront pour la CAN 2008

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Cape Verde 2-2 Algeria

Cape Verde scored a goal in injury time to clinch a 2-2 draw with visiting Algeria in Group Eight of the 2008 African Cup of Nations qualifiers on Saturday.

In the first half Algeria's Madjid Bougherra opened the scoring while his teammate and goalkeeper Lounes Gaouaoui was sent off.

In the second half Cape Verde equalized with a goal from Manuel Sanchez.

Then with just five minutes left on the clock Rafik Saifi scored to restore Algeria's lead.

Mashado Blanco rescued a point for Cape Verde when he found the target in the second minute of injury time.

The result means that Algeria still top the group after four matches on eight points, Cape Verde are four points behind.

[Al-khiyal]

June 2, 2007 -- The Algerian national football squad today tied 2 -2 with the Cape Verdian national team in Praia as part of the qualifying matches for the African Nations Cup finals due to hosted by Ghana next February 2008.

According to most sports commentators present in Praia, the Algerian national squad today missed a golden opportunity to carry the day versus a Cape Verdian team which lacked stamina and imagination at home.

After a wait-and-see period in the first quarter of the game, Algeria got the upper hand by scoring a first goal at the 26th minute after a wavering moment in the Cape Verdian defensive line.

The Algerian players managed to hold on to their 1-0 advantage throughout the first half by foiling all their opponents' offensive spurts.

But against all expectations, the Cape Verdians succeeded in scoring the equaliser during the second half of the match.

The Cape Verdians' joy was smashed shortly afterwards by Algerian striker Rafik Saifi who hurled a header staight into the opponents' net, giving once again the lead to Algeria.

Everyone thought that Algeria was heading for an easy away victory but the Cape Verdians managed to score a happy equaliser, just a few minutes before the referee's final whistle.

With this meritorious draw clinched in Praia, the Algerian national football squad remains on top of the overall standings of their group followed by Guinea and Cape Verde respectively. The bottom place is held by Gambia which is now virtually shut out from the competition.

Algeria is poised to snatch its qualifying ticket to the 2008 African Cup finals as it receives in a fortnight in Algiers (June 16) the national team of Guinea as part of the last round of the qualifers.

African Nations Cup qualifiers: Algeria 2-2 Cape Verde in Praia

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L’équipe nationale ramène le point du nul de Praia

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Les Verts à un point de la CAN 2008

The “Greens” still need another point on their path to Ghana

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June 4, 2007 -- Despite criticism, Argentine national team boss Alfio Basile has affirmed that his side will maintain the same formation as in the match against Switzerland when they face Algeria on Tuesday.

Argentina will keep the 4-3-3 formation, even though they played a poor game in their last outing against the Swiss on Saturday.

Lionel Messi will be the side’s anchor man, behind strikers Hernan Crespo and Carlos Tevez.

“I see Leo in that position, even though he usually doesn’t play there, because players with class can play in various different positions, and he is one of them”, Basile said.

Basile will use today’s training session to correct all the mistakes made in the dull 1-1 draw against Switzerland in Basel.

“Today we will talk about what went wrong and what we must improve on. I’m happy because the team played well, and dominated play for 70 or 75 minutes of a difficult match against a tall Swiss side. The rain and state of the pitch didn’t help as well. But we created five goal-scoring opportunities, scoring only one, but we must create eight or ten [chances]”.

In reference to Argentina’s opponents, Algeria, he stated:

“I’ve watched them in a couple of videos, they play with a 4-4-2 formation, although obviously I don’t know their players individually”, he concluded.

Argentina will face Algeria for the first time in their history, and will be expecting to win the match in order to gain confidence before the commencement of the Copa America.

Argentina to keep same formation against Algeria