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INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY PREVIEW: ALGERIA V ARMENIA
SoccerWay
May 29 2014
29 May 2014
Algeria's solid defensive record will likely be tested in their second
FIFA World Cup preparation friendly against Armenia on Saturday.
In the build-up to their Group H opener against Belgium on June 17,
Vahid Halilhodzic has seen his side secure a 2-0 friendly win over
Slovenia, having qualified for the World Cup on away goals against
Burkina Faso.
Algeria suffered a rare defensive off-day in Ouagadougou but made it
through after their 1-0 second-leg win.
Halilhodzic's defence has been breached in just one of their last four
outings - something that will offer confidence to Algeria as they seek
to improve on a disappointing showing in South Africa four years ago.
They picked up just one point in 2010 while failing to score and face
a tricky task in Brazil against experienced sides such as Belgium,
South Korea and Russia.
Another clean sheet against Armenia, as well as some offensive joy,
could both happen against Armenia - who showed their defensive
weaknesses and their attacking threat against the UAE in midweek.
Bernard Challandes' men won through in a seven-goal thriller - but
goals from Ali Khaled Al Amri, Mohamed Abdulrahman and Salem Saleh
in Carouge will fill Algeria's forwards with hope.
Skipper Madjid Bougherra and his fellow defenders will also be able
to test themselves out against some offensive quality at the Stade de
Tourbillon in Sion - such as Borussia Dortmund's Henrikh Mkhitaryan
and striker Yura Movsisyan - prolific in the Russian Premier League
for Spartak Moscow.
Challandes will take charge of his third friendly at the helm of the
Armenian national side with the UAE defeat showing the first signs
of positivity after an initial defeat to Russia.
His decision to broaden the scope of which players to call up appears
to be paying dividends and victory over Algeria in the nations'
first meeting would certainly give Armenia a boost ahead of their
Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, which gets under way in September.
For Algeria, their Armenian test will be the second of three friendlies
against European opposition ahead of their clash with Belgium and
players will be well aware that Halilhodzic has yet to trim his squad
down to 23.
Yacine Brahimi is one Algeria player refusing to take his place for
granted, telling FIFA.com: "I'm not there yet but it's very satisfying
to be one of the players under consideration.
"And no matter who goes in the end, the team will be giving its all.
The Algerian people are proud but demanding too. The team has
responsibilities and it will have to shoulder them.
"It's a very tough group, with an excellent Belgium team, not to
mention Russia and Korea Republic, who are both regular finalists."
http://int.soccerway.com/news/2014/May/29/international-friendly-preview-algeria-v-armenia/n305803/
From: A. Papazian
SoccerWay
May 29 2014
29 May 2014
Algeria's solid defensive record will likely be tested in their second
FIFA World Cup preparation friendly against Armenia on Saturday.
In the build-up to their Group H opener against Belgium on June 17,
Vahid Halilhodzic has seen his side secure a 2-0 friendly win over
Slovenia, having qualified for the World Cup on away goals against
Burkina Faso.
Algeria suffered a rare defensive off-day in Ouagadougou but made it
through after their 1-0 second-leg win.
Halilhodzic's defence has been breached in just one of their last four
outings - something that will offer confidence to Algeria as they seek
to improve on a disappointing showing in South Africa four years ago.
They picked up just one point in 2010 while failing to score and face
a tricky task in Brazil against experienced sides such as Belgium,
South Korea and Russia.
Another clean sheet against Armenia, as well as some offensive joy,
could both happen against Armenia - who showed their defensive
weaknesses and their attacking threat against the UAE in midweek.
Bernard Challandes' men won through in a seven-goal thriller - but
goals from Ali Khaled Al Amri, Mohamed Abdulrahman and Salem Saleh
in Carouge will fill Algeria's forwards with hope.
Skipper Madjid Bougherra and his fellow defenders will also be able
to test themselves out against some offensive quality at the Stade de
Tourbillon in Sion - such as Borussia Dortmund's Henrikh Mkhitaryan
and striker Yura Movsisyan - prolific in the Russian Premier League
for Spartak Moscow.
Challandes will take charge of his third friendly at the helm of the
Armenian national side with the UAE defeat showing the first signs
of positivity after an initial defeat to Russia.
His decision to broaden the scope of which players to call up appears
to be paying dividends and victory over Algeria in the nations'
first meeting would certainly give Armenia a boost ahead of their
Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, which gets under way in September.
For Algeria, their Armenian test will be the second of three friendlies
against European opposition ahead of their clash with Belgium and
players will be well aware that Halilhodzic has yet to trim his squad
down to 23.
Yacine Brahimi is one Algeria player refusing to take his place for
granted, telling FIFA.com: "I'm not there yet but it's very satisfying
to be one of the players under consideration.
"And no matter who goes in the end, the team will be giving its all.
The Algerian people are proud but demanding too. The team has
responsibilities and it will have to shoulder them.
"It's a very tough group, with an excellent Belgium team, not to
mention Russia and Korea Republic, who are both regular finalists."
http://int.soccerway.com/news/2014/May/29/international-friendly-preview-algeria-v-armenia/n305803/
From: A. Papazian