BRAZIL 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP SPECIAL
H
BELGIUM,ALGERIA,RUSSIA,SOUTHKOREA
BREAKING THE MOULD: Algeria’s main Objective
is qualifying from the group stage.
ALGERIA
Germany and Austria contrived a
result that allowed them both to
progress.
Fennec foxes hunt first win since Espana'82
BRIEFLY: Algeria go into their
second successive World Cup finals
courtesy of an away goals rule victory
over Burkina Faso in a tense 3-3 playoff which sealed a good end to a year
that started disastrously for 'The
Fennec Foxes' (Desert foxes).
Expectations in Brazil will be greater
than it were at South Africa 2010 when
Algeria finished bottom of their first
round group but not before they had a
creditable goalless draw with
England.
The qualification ended a long-term
slump for a country who had first been
to the finals in 1982 and famously
beaten the then reigning European
Champions West Germany 2-1.
MISSION: Algeria are known for
pulling off World Cup shocks.
Remember they stunned eventual
finalists West Germany in 1982,
narrowly fell to Brazil in 1986 and held
England in 2010. Another might be on
STAR
EDEN HAZARD: Belgium
MAN have struggled to score in the
face of organised defences but in
Chelsea's Eden Hazard, they have
someone with the skill to dribble through a
defensive wall - or deliver the last vital pass.
In Wilmots, Hazard has gained a mentor
and someone who will put his arm around
his star talent to confide and encourage.
Hazard has rewarded the trust placed in
48 COMPLETE FOOTBALL
KEY
MAN
the card in Brazil but their utmost
task will be to win a game as the
Foxes have not won a World Cup
finals game in a long time.
LOW POINT: Scraped through
qualifying on away goals advantage
against Burkina Faso, who have never
made it to a World Cup, and are likely
to struggle in Brazil having had a poor
showing at the African Nations Cup.
Algeria have not won a game in their
last two appearances at the finals
(1986 and 2010) and will be hoping to
make amends in Brazil.
PREPARATION: Algeria won
five of their six group
matches to go over
COACH
M a l i , B e n i n a n d HALILHODZIC (BOSNIA-HERZGOVINA):
61, coached the Ivory Coast to
Rwanda, then beat Halilhodzic,
qualification for the 2010 World Cup but was
Burkina Faso over two then fired just months before the finals after
legs in a decisive play- the team flopped at the African Cup of
off. They haven't
STRONGEST LINE-UP
ever made it past
Zemmamouche
the group stages.
HIGH POINT: In
1982, Algeria
became the first
African nation to
win two matches
in the same finals,
but they failed to
qualify from the
group on goal
difference after
VINCENT KOMPANY: We
were all witness to the impact
Kompany’s absence had on
Manchester City in the early days
of the current Premier League campaign
and his influence is just as key for the
national team. Not only is the Anderlecht
academy graduate a fine defender, he’s a
leader of men. His motivational skills,
organization and the manner in which he
leads by example will all be crucial qualities
in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of a
Halliche
Bougherra
Mesbah
Belkalem
Feghouli
Guédioura
Bentaleb
Medjani
Belfodil
Djebbour
FORMATION: 4-4-2
KEY
MAN
ROMELU LUKAKU: On
loan from Chelsea, Lukaku is
the highest scorer with 13
Premier League goals for the Toffees.
His presence upfront will add the
finishing touches to all the finesse in
midfield. Belgium’s chances will be a
whole lot more realistic if Lukaku is fit
and available, bearing in mind the
absence of Christian Benteke.