Algeria vs England Madjid Bougherra says pressure is on favourites England
Algeria central defender Madjid Bougherra insisted that all the pressure is on favourites England, ahead of their Group C match in Cape Town on Friday. Bougherra's team are sitting bottom of the pool having lost their opening game 1-0 to Slovenia, but the 27-year-old is far from downhearted in the knowledge that they are only one point behind Fabio Capello's side.
And, as England were fully expected to finish top of the group at the outset, the Rangers centre-back believes they are the ones that should be worrying, ahead of the vital clash at the Green Point Stadium.
"England are a big player with a good mentality and a lot of experience," said Bougherra, who is one of the more experienced players from an Algerian team playing in the FIFA World Cup for the first time in more than 20 years.
"It is our first World Cup so we have nothing to lose. We are not just thinking about the World Cup but also about the future. We will do our best to portray a good image of Algeria. We have a good spirit and have nothing to lose."
Bougherra believes that Capello's side will undoubtedly improve following a stuttering start in the opening 1-1 draw with the USA on Saturday. "It was a strong game between England and the USA. Both teams played hard with a good spirit," he added.
"There was frustration for England and also for the USA, but it was a good result because it gives us a chance as England and the USA have just one point. England are the favourites but big teams usually start slowly and finish high. I expect England to get better."
Algerian skipper Anther Yahia also believes that his side can pose Group C favourites England problems when the two teams clash on Friday in Cape Town. Both teams go into the game on the back of disappointing results in their opening matches, with England having been held to a draw by the United States, and Algeria losing 1-0 to the tournaments smallest nation, Slovenia.
However, 28-year-old Yahia, who plays his domestic football for German team VfL Bochum, believes that a change of tactics from their opening game would benefit his team and cause the England side plenty of problems. "We have qualities which should shine through," said the French-born midfielder, who has represented France at junior and under-18 level. "We are going to pose problems for the English. We will be more ambitious than we were agaisnt Slovenia and it is a role that will suit us better."
Algeria manager Rabah Saadane has said he will be asking the players to give it their all in their remaining fixtures. "There are two extremely difficult matches remaining, against England and then in the last match against the USA on June 23. For these two games, the players have to run themselves into the ground," said Saadane, who was also at the helm for Algeria at the 1986 finals. "We have to be in the right shape psychologically and tactically. England are a superb team. I put them among my favourites. There will be very little change against them in terms of personnel, maybe one or two."
Mohamed Raouraoua, who is president of the Algerian football federation, insists that Algeria are not going into their final games to simply to lie down and surrender, and will be trying to win both games. "We are not going there just to make up the numbers, and we still have a chance of getting to the next stage of the tournament.”said Raouraoua, who was speaking at the team’s training session.
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