Algeria - Team Profile

Manager: Vahid Halilhodzic

Best finish: Group stages (1982, 1986, 2010)

World Cup record: Played 13, Won 3, Drawn 3, Lost 7

History

This will be their fourth World Cup finals, their finest hour their very first game in 1982 when they beat, of all people, West Germany. But they were denied a place in the knockout phase when, rather infamously, the Germans and Austrians (allegedly) conspired to produce a result in their final group game that saw Algeria sent home. They had no joy in '86 either, finishing bottom of their group, their only point from a 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland, suffering the same fate in 2010, despite a scoreless draw with England, that went down well in Blighty, as you can imagine.

Whiteboard

Bosnian Halilhodzic took over in 2011 and jettisoned the old crew up front. Their hopes lie with Portugal-based frontman Islam Sliman and Sofiane Feghouli and Yacine Brahimi in support .

All Star - Sofiane Feghouli

The former French youth international is an attacking midfielder with Valencia and made his debut in 2011. He has been a key figure since, averaging more than a goal every three games.

County Colours - Armagh

Bandit Country – a fiery bunch on and off the field.

Pundit's Corner – Cyril Farrell: "If they win it, whatever about milking, they'll drink the cows."

Prospects

Came through the play-offs, scraping past Burkina Faso. They're 22/1 to get out of Group H, 2,000/1 to win the World Cup. 'Outsiders' is putting it loosely but despite Belgium 's obvious class this group is far from wrapped up, neither Russia nor South Korea are what you wold call powerhouses.

FINAL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: 1 Cedric Si Mohamed (CS Constantine), 16 Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche (USM Alger), 23 Rais Mbolhi (CSKA Sofia/Bul).

Defenders: 2 Madjid Bougherra (Al Lekhwiya), 3 Faouzi Ghoulam (Napoli/Ita), 4 Essaid Belkalem (Watford/Eng), 5 Rafik Halliche (Academica), 6 Djamel Mesbah (Livorno), 12 Carl Medjani (Valenciennes), 17 Liassine Cadamuro (Real Mallorca/Esp), 20 Aissa Mandi (Reims/Fra), 22 Mehdi Mostefa (Ajaccio).

Midfielders: 7 Hassan Yebda (Udinese/Ita), 8 Medhi Lacen (Getafe/Esp), 10 Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia/Esp), 11 Yacine Brahimi (Grenada/Esp), 14 Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham/Eng), 18 Abdelmoumen Djabou (Club Africain), 19 Saphir Taider (Inter Milan/Ita), 21 Riyad Mahrez (Leicester/Eng)

Forwards: 9 Nabil Ghilas (Porto/Por), 13 Islam Slimani (Sporting Lisbon/Por), 15 Hilal Soudani (Dinamo Zagreb/Cro)

TEAM LINE-UPS

ALGERIA (v Belgium): 23 Rais Mbolhi; 22 Mehdi Mostefa, 2 Madjid Bougherra, 5 Rafik Halliche, 3 Faouzi Ghoulam; 12 Carl Medjani (9 Nabil Ghilas, 84 mins), 19 Saphir Taider, 14 Nabil Bentaleb (yc); 10 Sofiane Feghouli, 15 Hilal Soudani (13 Islam Slimani, 66 mins), 21 Riyad Mahrez (8 Medhi Lacen, 71 mins).

ALGERIA (v South Korea): 23 Rais Mbolhi; 20 Aissa Mandi, 2 Madjid Bougherra (yc) (4 Essaid Belkalem, 89 mins), 5 Rafik Halliche, 6 Djamel Mesbah; 12 Carl Medjani , 14 Nabil Bentaleb; 10 Sofiane Feghouli, 11 Yacine Brahimi (8 Medhi Lacen, 77 mins), 18 Abdelmoumen Djabou (9 Nabil Ghilas, 73 mins); 13 Islam Slimani.

ALGERIA (v Russia): 23 Rais Mbolhi; 20 Aissa Mandi, 4 Essaid Belkalem, 5 Rafik Halliche, 6 Djamel Mesbah (yc); 12 Carl Medjani , 14 Nabil Bentaleb; 10 Sofiane Feghouli, 11 Yacine Brahimi (7 Hassan Yebda, 71 mins), 18 Abdelmoumen Djabou (9 Nabil Ghilas (yc), 77 mins); 13 Islam Slimani`(15 Hilal Soudani, 90 mins). *Liassine Cadamuro was show a yellow card on the sidelines.

ALGERIA (v Germany): 23-Rais Mbolhi; 20-Aissa Mandi, 4-Essaid Belkalem, 5-Rafik Halliche (yc) (Bougherra 97'), 3-Fauzi Ghoulam; 22-Mehdi Mostefa, 8-Mehdi Lacen; 10-Sofiane Feghouli, 19-Saphir Taider (Brahimi 78'), 15-El Arabi Soudani (Djabou 100'); 13-Islam Slimani.