Algeria Squad for World Cup Football 2010

All the participating teams are now busy sorting out their squad ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2010 that kicks off from June 11 in South Africa. Many teams have already announced their preliminary squads for training camp and will take part in friendly matches before the world cup begins.

Algeria announced their preliminary squad on Tuesday (4 May) for two training camps- one in Crans-Montana, Switzerland from May 13 to 26, and another one in Nuremberg, Germany from May 31 to June 6. Coach Rabah Saadane has named 25 players now and 5 more players will be announced later on. Algeria will play two warm-up games: one against Ireland on 28 June, and another one against United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 5 June.

Regarding the team selection coach Saadane said:

"Selection has been a real headache but I wanted to keep the backbone of the team that got through to the semi-finals in Angola," Saadane told journalists.

"The end of the season is difficult with some players injured and others exhausted. Our two camps will allow us to evaluate each player, including their capability to adapt to altitude."

Algeria qualified for the world cup as the champion of Group C in the world cup 2010 qualifying round of African region. They were also the semi finalist of this year’s African Cup of Nations.

In the group stage of world cup 2010, Algeria will play in Group C that also includes football power-house England, Slovenia and USA. Algeria’s world cup mission starts on 13 June with the match against Slovenia.

In the preliminary squad, there are only 4 players who play in Algerian league including 3 goalkeepers and defender Abdelkader Laifaoui who currently plays for ES Setif. Primarily, coach Saadane has named 4 goalkeepers, 8 defenders, 10 midfielders and 3 strikers. So, it seems that the coach will include couple of strikers and defenders in the provisional squad, before finalizing the 23-man final squad for the world cup.

Here, I am giving the name of the 25 players announced:

Goalkeepers: Fawzi Chouachi (ES Setif/ Algeria), Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO Chlef/ Algeria), Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche (MC Alger/ Algeria), M'bohi Rais Ouheb (Slavia Sofia/Bulgaria)

Defenders: Abdelkader Laifaoui (ES Setif/ Algeria), Madjid Bougherra (Rangers/Scotland), Carl Medjani Carl (Ajaccio/France), Rafi Halliche (Nacional Madeira/Portugal), Anther Yahia (Bochum/Germany), Haib Belaid (Boulogne/France), Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth/England), Djamel Mesbah (Lecce/Italy)

Midfielders: Hassen Yebda (Potsmouth/England), Mehdi Lacen (Racing Santander/Spain), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient/France), Adlane Guedioura (Wolverhampton/England), Riad Boudebouz Riad (Sochaux/France), Djamel Abdoun (Nantes/France), Fouad Kadir (Valenciennes/France), Mourad Meghni (Lazio/Italy), Karim Ziani (Wolfsburg/Germany), Karim Matmour (M'Gladbach/Germany)

Strikers: Abdelkader Ghezzal (Sienna/Italy), Rafik Djebbour (AEK Athens/Germany), Rafik Saifi (Istres/France)