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Attack-minded Algeria out to lay the ghosts of the 1982 World Cup to rest

When talking of the best Arabian moments at the World Cup, there are two that stand out.

Saeed Al-Owairan’s amazing goal against Belgium in 1994 as Saudi Arabia marched into the second round is simply one of the best goals ever.

Then there was Algeria 12 years earlier in Spain. It is hard to imagine now just what a big shock that win over West Germany was. And it is almost as hard, well, not quite in the age of social media (if only twitter had been around) to imagine the outrage at the ensuing game between the Germans and Austria.

 

Algeria's Lakhdar Belloumi, left, celebrates after scoring winning goal against West Germany in 1982.
Algeria's Lakhdar Belloumi, left, celebrates after scoring winning goal against West Germany in 1982.

It was a major moment in football history as the two teams played out this ‘game of shame’ - a gentle 1-0 German win that saw both progress to the second round at Algeria’s expense. Even media in the two European countries was embarrassed. Since then, all games in the final round of tournaments have always kicked off at the same time.

If football was fair then Algeria would have had some outrageous luck in subsequent tournaments but that has yet to happen. Being grouped with Brazil, Spain and a decent Northern Ireland team in 1986 was tough. The 2010 campaign never really got going and the team failed to score a single goal in South Africa, the goalless stalemate with England being the sole highlight, if it could be called that.

RELATED: How Saudi Arabia's football chiefs have failed their post-1994 'dreamers'

But 2014 could be very different. An open Group H gives Algeria a great chance of the knockout stage. Points will be taken off each other and one victory against either Belgium, first opponents, South Korea or Russia, as well a draw elsewhere, could be enough.

When the draw was made, many saw the Fennecs as prime candidates for fourth but things have changed. That perception was as much to do with past failures than any up-to-date information about the present incarnation of the North African team, one that looks to have little in common with the underwhelming 2010 participants.

It should not be forgotten that Algeria is ranked 22nd in the world by FIFA, far above Korea, close to Russia and not a million miles from Belgium.

For a start, the team has a lot of players active in the big European leagues and they carry a threat of goals. No more so than Sofiane Feghouli.

The tricky Valencia attacking midfielder is becoming the team’s go-to guy going forward and is coming off a good season in La Liga. Able to score himself but is more likely to get behind defences to create chances for the likes of Islam Slimani of Sporting Lisbon, a striker powerful in the air and who boasts an impressive international goalscoring record.

When you add the energetic Saphir Taider of Inter and Tottenham star Nabeel Bin Taleb then you have an attacking unit that plenty in Brazil would envy. Much depends on the defence, marshaled by the experienced, if slightly fading, Majdid Bougherra holding firm.

Coach Vahid Halilhodzic has built a tight unit. Qualification may have been achieved by the narrowest of margins but this is a team that looks to be approaching its peak and is in excellent form. Going into the tournament, Algeria has lost just once in 13 games and will kick off against Belgium in high confidence after three wins against Armenia, Romania and Slovenia. Contrast this with South Korea, a team reeling after losing four out of its last five.

That second game against the Taeguk Warriors is going to be crucial to Algeria’s chances of getting out of the group but first comes the game against the team tipped by most to top the standings and that is Belgium.

Algeria may have players in some of Europe’s top leagues but they have nothing on the Red Devils. Whether it is Eden Hazard, one of the top talents in the world, the Manchester United duo of Marouane Felliani and Adnan Januzaj, Bayern Munich’s Daniel Van Buyten and Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany, there is quality all over the team, especially in midfield and attack where Romelu Lukaku, inexplicably loaned out by Chelsea to Everton last season, could really enjoy himself.

The 2010 version of Algeria under conservative coach Rabah Saadane would have a better chance of grinding out a goalless draw against the Europeans but this current version has a better chance of actually taking the three points. There are weaknesses at the Belgian backline in precisely the areas where Algeria is strong.

Now is a chance for Algeria to believe in itself and go for the win. This has not always been the case in the past when playing the big-boys. The team should take inspiration from the exploits of the team that thrilled the world in Spain and realise that attack is the best form of defence.

And then, the ghosts of 1982 could finally be laid to rest and Algeria could progress to the second round 32 years after it was so cruelly denied.

 

* John Duerden is a Middle East and Asia football correspondent for @YahooSportsME as well as the Guardian, ESPN & World Soccer. He also writes for New York Times, AP, Daily Telegraph and various other Asia media outlets. Follow him on Twitter at @JohnnyDuerden