2014 World Cup team in profile: Algeria
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E-mail CNTV, May 15, 2014
While some teams like Spain are expected to go all the way, other countries perhaps, have more modest ambitions. They are very pleased just to have qualified. We profile one of those teams: Algeria.
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Algeria's soccer team players pose for photographers before their team's 2014 World Cup qualifying second leg playoff soccer match against Burkina Faso at Tchaker Stadium in Blida, November 19, 2013. |
Algeria have had little to celebrate since the last time they were crowned Africa Cup of Nations champions in 1990. However their qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup sparked wild scenes last November and both fans and players are looking forward to appearing at successive finals for the second time.
"I'm very, very, excited because this will be a special World Cup. It's being held in Brazil, the land of football. Even though the game was invented in England, it was in Brazil where it became beautiful. I can't wait for it, I'm very excited and I hope that it will be one big celebration."
Algeria is the largest country in Africa, covering 2.38 million square kilometers, an area nearly four times the size of Texas, but 80% of the country is covered by sand, as a large area in the south of the country is part of the Sahara Desert. Temperatures in this region can reach over 50 degrees. The north is cut off from the desert by mountains and fertile valleys. Algeria's main export is petroleum and natural gas. Football arrived just before the turn of the 20th Century, introduced by European settlers. It is now the country's most popular sport. The nation's football team is nicknamed "Les Fennecs" or the Desert Foxes. Their first recognized international took place in 1963. Notable clubs include JSK Kabylie, MC Alger, and Entente Sportive de Setif. And when they're not watching their favorite football team, many Algerians like to play dominos.
"We have a young team of good individual players. They are better than those who played for the previous national team."
Algeria easily topped their qualifying group, and faced Burkina Faso in the playoff round. Playing away in the first leg, the Algerians equalized twice before conceding a late penalty, and losing 3-2. The return fixture was on the 19th of November, 2013. The scheduled kickoff time was 7:30 in the evening, but the stadium in Bleda was full before lunchtime. A 1-0 victory of the scruffy rebound off Bougala was enough to see the Algerians through on the away goals rule.
"I think we're still celebrating! We can't just wait for the World Cup so we can justify all of those celebrations. It really was something special. The Algerian people celebrated all night and it was a great joy to be able to bring them such joy. They were more stressed than we were and it was such a relief when the final went."
The Algerians will be based in Sorocaba near Sao Paulo and face Belgium in their opening game on June 17th. They go to Porto Allegre for the meeting with the Koreans and play Russia on the 26th in Curitiba.
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