World Cup Soccer 2010: USA vs. Algeria Preview
The football World Cup 2010 is heading towards its business end as teams prepare for the final games in the group stages which would decide the line-up for the knock-out-second- round stage of the tournament.
The United States have an eye on qualification for the next round after escaping with two draws against England and Slovenia in their opening two matches in group C. A draw against Algeria would more or less guarantee them a spot in the second round of the tournament.
The Americans have shown great tenacity to fight back in both their games making a comeback after being down a goal in the first match, and an even a greater effort against the Slovenians where they scored two goals in the second half, after reeling by two goals in the first half.
American Coach Bob Bradley feels that his team has shown its true mettle by fighting back from the dead twice, yet this was not an encouraging pattern and they should try and dominate from the start as it is not possible to make a comeback in every game.
The Americans are hopeful that their fortunes will be different to the last world cup in Germany, when they lost their final group game needing a win and lost narrowly to Africans Ghana and were sent packing from the competition.
Current captain Carlos Bocanegra was part of the team that took part in the tournament in Germany four years ago, and he claimed that the disappointment of that defeat has stayed on his mind ever since.
“We obviously had a bad outing in 2006 and we weren't happy how things worked out. We have a great chance to get a win and advance to the second round,” said Bocanegra.
“It is important to us because of that disappointment in 2006, it's not really extra motivation but it’s in the back of our minds. You work so hard and train for so long for the World Cup and it can be over so quickly if you don't advance,” he added.
Meanwhile, America’ s opponent in today’s crucial game are the brave Algeria who are confident of sneaking through to the next round after holding the might England team to a nil-nil draw in their last match.
They are likely to retain the same team that took the field against England, as they bid to enter the second round for the first time in their history.
Coach Rabah Saadane told reporters that the team is representing not only Algeria, but the entire African continent as well as the Arab world and they have the prayers of millions with them which are bound to hold them in good stead for the big occasion.
He added that the team composition might be tinkered a little, especially if the need arises of adding ammunition to the striking department.
Algeria is placed at the bottom of the rankings in their group and they can sneak through to the next round by beating America, and hoping that the 1966 World champion’s England and Slovenia’s result go in their favour.
The captain of the Algerian squad Antar Yahia thinks that his team is in the right frame of mind and is full of confidence and energy for the game against the United States.
He added that it was a huge plus to have drawn against a powerful team like England, which was ranked as one of the favourites for the tournament, and that performance is going to help them greatly against the United States.
On the other hand, one major worry for them is that they are yet to score in the tournament, and have not really looked like causing too many problems for the defence of their opponents yet, and if they are to win Antar Yahia should hope that the prayers of millions bear fruit against the United States.
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