World Cup 2002 - African qualification

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World Cup 2002 - African qualification - match report
Algeria - Namibia 1:0  Jan 26, 1430 GMT
before
Namibia in some kind of rainbow red, without critized midfielder Tjikuzu and Algeria in white without Dziri but with Benarbia. Namibia are considered without chance in this group and the 3 points are obligatory for Algeria. Algeria suffers from the typical North African desease of having problems converting an intelligent and skillful passing game into goals but Namibia are not known for scoring sprees either, rather for dropout matches in defence. But no match is won automatically and Namibia has had some surpring good performances some times.

1st half
('4) after a moderate beginning a first big hole in the Namibian defence forces the goalkeeper tu run out and rescue
('5) Algeria maintain their spell and the Namibian defence shows clear signs of vulnurability.
-Algeria attacks using the wings and tries to suffocate counter attempts by attacking the Namibians, who yet operate without long balls, deep in their own half.
-('11) a low cross from the left exposes another misplacement in the Namibian defence and find Tasfaout? all alone in front of the goal but his direct shot goes wide by a meter - a huge opportunity
-('12) next cross - next trouble, Namibians get nervous and have problems to get the ball away 
-only once yet Namibia has been able to conduct a neat passing sequence through midfield
-('18) an ugly looking late challenge on an Algerian striker, he has to get treated aside the field
-('28) good save by the Namibian keeper against a dangerous bouncing distance shot
-('28) on the counter break 2 Namibian players hunted by a sole defender run with the ball in direction to the Algerian goal only the keeper between them and the net. The player with the ball tries to shove the ball into the left corner from about 18 meters and fails: the ball rolls wide - unbelievable
-the ground is a bit difficult to play on, an exact side pass would not have been as easy as it seemed
-('32) continuing dangers for Namibian defence when after a one-two Algerians try to go for a penalty but wiothout success
-('34) free kick, 18 meters half left, #19 Belmadi perfectly curves it over the wall into the triangle at the first goal post - 1:0
-('37) after a corner more troubles for Namibians, a volley attempt by Tasfaout which sets up a direct shot by another player from 8 meters and a great save by the Namibian keeper
-the attempts of Namibian defenders to play the ball out of their penalty area too often  appear to be disastrously
-('injury time) Namibia penetrate into the penalty area and accomplish a shot on the goal, but it is harmless and no problem for the keeper

halftime 1:0
although Namibia exposed weak spots all over their defence, Algeria again needed a set piece to score and had to survive a big scare before when Namibians proved they are no better in converting opportunities. Now it will be difficult for Namibia to get back into the game, they lack impact. From the offered opportunities Algeria should have no problem to score the deciding second goal, but... 

2nd half
-('46) Algeria express their determination by a concentrated start and a Belmadi 16 meter shot, saved without problems
-('48) Ghazi, inside the penalty area, is touched, goes for the penalty adding theatralics, and is rewarded with a yellow card
-('58) Algeria: header after corner only misses by centimeters
-('64) Ghazi, running towards the goal on a counter attack,  is stopped in the last moment by a Namibian tackle
-('65) Algeria: #12, who has come in as a substitute tries a sharp shot from half right burt Namibian keeper can deflect it for a corner
-('72) Namibia break through by a diagonal ball but #8 only hits the outside of the net from half left hand side
-the match has some odd looking sequences
-('82) indirect free kick for Algeria 18 meters half right hand side fired across the bar, about half a meter high, by Ghazi
-Algeria have lost much of their methodology of constructing dangerous attacks through out the match but survive the rest of the match somehow

final result 1:0
This match has perfectly exposed the weaknesses (and also some strengths) of both teams and might serve as a perfect video for preperation purposes against the two squads. It is difficult to imagine one of the two could make it to the World Cup. For Namibia it is almost impossible, for Algeria the chance is still alive - the encounters with their Northern neighbours are a different affair.
The Algerian team, which especially in the beginning of match plays a fine football seems in difficulties to score without the help of penalties or free kicks despite working out several opportunities. Still they do not look perfect in defence. This makes their chances slim, having already lost two oints at home against Senegal. 
 

 

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