Algeria gain new respect, though old pain remains

Rarely do the defeated get the kind of applause Algeria got here on Monday. The cheering from a pocket of Ger man supporters was drowned in the applause for the Desert Foxes.

Teary-eyed coach Vahid Halilhodzic hugged the players and waved to the crowd, acknowledging their support to the underdogs. The city’s tryst with the World Cup ended but “1-2-3, go Algerie,” is possibly still echoing around the stadium.

“We played here the last time (against South Korea) and got a good support. We hope Brazilians will back us,” Halilhodzic had said. His postmatch reaction suggested even he didn’t expect what he got. The same could be said about his team. Through their four games, Algeria had shown grit they should be proud of.

PORTO ALEGRE:

PSYCHING UP With the ‘nothing to lose’ spirit the coach had promised he would instill, Algeria went at Germany. They played five defenders and Medhi Lacen in front. And with Saphir Taider and the skilful Sofiane Feghouli playing close to them, Algeria made Germany’s build-up look elaborate and largely ineffective in the first half.

“We have got to get the underdog feeling out of us. Algeria can surprise you,” Halilhodzic had said. Till extra-time when the physical superiority of the Germans impacted this prequarter final, they did. “We’re very disappointed. We’re part of Algeria’s foot

ball history because we’re the first team to have come this far and we can build on this for the future. We owe it to our coach. We’d like to thank him for everything he’s done for and with the team,” said the Manof-the-Match, goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi. OLD GRUDGE Players who were part of the 1982 team that suffered at West Germany’s hands had asked this team to help them forget 32 years of hurt. West Germany was the first top team Algeria played as an independent country, on January 1, 1964. They had won then and in Spain in the 1982 World Cup. With some luck it could have been 3-0.

“Some players were tired. It’s perfectly normal for a team like ours. The top players are better prepared than us. But when a team plays with heart it can succeed. I think we should have reached the penalty shootout but Germany knew what to do at right time,” said defender Madjid Bughera who was born a few months after the ‘Disgrace at Gijon.’

The coach didn’t attend the post-match media conference and there were rumours he could be leaving. “I want to thank Vahid on behalf of all players,” said Bughera. “He gave us discipline and strength after taking charge when we were down. Today, he asked us whether we believed in ourselves. He said ‘if you believe in yourselves, stay structured.’ He needs to be rewarded if he is leaving. We all kissed him in the end.”

The African teams are gone, but the scare Nigeria and Algeria gave former champions within hours of each other will be remembered.