Coach Vahid Halilhodzic has told Algeria now is not the time for tears ahead of today’s date with South Korea where defeat will spell yet another premature ending to a World Cup campaign.
The Algerians, desperate to end a seven-match World Cup winless run, are pointless and bottom after a 2-1 loss to Group H favourites Belgium.
With the notable exception of their stunning 1982 upset of Germany aside, the story of their World Cup experiences does not make happy reading for the proud Algerians.
The north Africans have never made it past the first round, and Sofiane Feghouli’s penalty against Belgium was their first goal in the competition in 28 years.
With the stakes high, Bosnian-born Halilhodzic told his team to man up.
“Now is not the time for crying, this match is decisive,” the 62-year-old noted disciplinarian said.
Victory meanwhile in Porto Alegre for South Korea would put them on the verge of qualifying.
Pacy Korea produced a solid debut in Friday’s 1-1 draw with Russia, a performance that gave coach Hong Myung-Bo’s team encouragement after a lacklustre build-up.
Korean defender Park Joo-ho is predicting a tight tussle.
“I don’t think either team will have a lot of attacking chances,” he said.
“If we can score on the chances that we do get, we should have a good shot at winning.”
Korea will be looking to the likes of Son Heung-min, elected man-of-the-match against Russia, to put in another sparkling effort in attacking midfield.
Son, one of three Koreans who will miss the finale against Belgium if they pick up a second booking, picked out Feghouli as one of Algeria’s dangermen.
“Feghouli showed great form with Valencia this season and proved to be a threat on the field. Knowing that, we have to make sure he doesn’t become a threat,” he said.
As Feghouli, one of nine players against Belgium born in France, concedes, the pressure is on.
“It will be historic if we qualify, we have to fight like lions,” said the La Liga winger, who represented his country of birth at under-18 and 21 level, before switching allegiances to Algeria.
“We have quality players, we’ll do everything to go through,” the 24-year-old said.
LIKELY LINE-UPS
Korea (4-2-3-1)
Jung; Lee Y, Hong, Kim, Yun; Han, Ki; Lee C-Y, Koo, Son; Lee K-H
Algeria (4-1-4-1)
M’Bolhi; Mostefa, Halliche, Bougherra, Ghoulam; Medjani; Feghouli, Taider, Bentaleb, Mahrez; Soudani
PREDICTION
Unlucky not to get three points against Russia, Korea will fancy their chances today. Algeria will not give them up easily though. 1-0 Korea.
