Algeria look to put self-inflicted defeat to Slovenia behind them

By George Burns Jun 14, 2010, 9:33 GMT

Polokwane, South Africa - Algeria were always going to be underdogs for qualification from Group C but the nature of their 1-0 defeat to Slovenia in Polokwane indicates that Rabah Saadane's side will need a complete transformation to make it to the next phase.

Although the Desert Foxes started brightly against Slovenia at the Peter Mokaba stadium, two bookings in quick succession for substitute Abdelkader Ghezzal followed by goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi allowing Robert Koren's to bounce over him put paid to their hopes of victory.

Coach Rabah Saadane admits Algeria now have a mountain to climb if they are to make the knockout stages with group favourites England next up in Cape Town on June 18 followed by Confederations Cup finalists the United States five days later in Pretoria.

'We need to try and recover and prepare ourselves for a more difficult match against the best team in the group, which is of course England,' said Saadane.

However, the 64-year-old reacted angrily to criticism of Algeria's tame performance, saying it was an achievement for the North African nation to have qualified for a World Cup finals for the first time since Mexico 1986.

'When you make it to a finals for the first time in 24 years, you have to be happy with what you achieve,' said Saadane.

'I have been saying for for a long time that we are here with the best teams in the world. We created a number of opportunities but were unable to convert them.'

It remains to be seen whether Saadane recalls captain Yazid Mansouri, who was left out in favour of Hassan Yebda and Medhi Lacen in midfield.

Either way, Saadane is aware that his side will have to improve markedly against Fabio Capello's England if their qualifying hopes aren't to be extinguished with one group game still remaining.

'We are on a learning curve and this is what happens in high-level matches,' he said.